ETHIOPIA: Ethiopian Airlines Acquires Africa's First Airbus A350XWB

Ethiopian Airlines yesterday took delivery of Africa's first Airbus A350XWB, being launch customer for the continent.

The aircraft will be deployed on the routes between Addis Ababa and Lagos and Addis Ababa and Dubai, clearly aimed to impress the Nigerian market to travel with them, now that Emirates has reportedly cut their services down to one frequency a day.

The aircraft, named Simien Mountains, was handed over to the top management of Ethiopian Airlines in Toulouse where the aircraft was assembled and tested before delivery.

ET has ordered an initial 14 of these state of the art wide body aircraft and expects delivery of another 13 after today, though there is speculation that the airline may up the order as it remains Africa's leading airline in terms of fleet, African and other international destinations.

The new aircraft is registered as ET-ATQ, MSN 40 while a sistership, due to join her in a few weeks, will be known as ET-ATR with MSN 43. There have been fears that the various challenges Airbus is encountering right now with its supply chain could have impacted on the delivery of this aircraft type to airlines around the world but is would appear that Airbus is pulling out all stops to ensure that new customer Ethiopian Airlines is not let down.

The new aircraft has 343 seats in two classes, offering a 3x3x3 configuration in Economy Class while Business class with 30 seats has a 2x2x2 cabin layout.

This however is in stark contrast for instance with the A350's operated by Qatar Airways which offer a 1x2x1 layout in their premium cabin.

Additional destinations of the new aircraft will be announced in due course when more of these planes have been delivered.

Flying With Monarch Airlines

It’s summer holiday time across most of Europe, so we focus on what travellers can expect if they are flying on Monarch Airlines in the coming weeks.

About Monarch Airlines
Monarch Airlines recently transitioned from a charter airline service to a scheduled low cost operation for short haul leisure routes. The airline operates a fleet of A320 and A321 aircraft in an all Economy Class configuration from its main base at Luton Airport and from Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester and Gatwick.

Seats onboard a Monarch Airlines flight
The typical dimensions for Monarch Airlines cabin seats provide a seat pitch of 28 inches, and seat width of 17.5 inches.

Checking in for your Monarch Airlines flight
Traffic delays, longer than expected security queues are good reasons to make sure you get to the airport nice and early.

YES : Online check-in
Available 28 days until 6 hours prior to departure, only available for bookings made directly with Monarch. Not available if you have booked via a travel agent or tour operator, or are part of a group booking of over 15 passengers. If you check-in online you will be charged for allocated seating

YES: Airport check-in
Opens 3 hours prior to departure, and close 40 minutes prior to departure. Check in is free of charge

What baggage are you allowed on Monarch Airlines ?
Don’t get caught out with expensive baggage charges … remember that airlines apply rules for a reason!

Checked-in Luggage
20kg baggage allowance per customer.

Hand baggage
Hand baggage – 1 item of hand baggage (10kg / 56x40x25cm) OR 2 items as long as the combined weight / size dimensions do not exceed (10kg / 56x40x25cm)

Excess Baggage charges
10GBP (13.50EUR) per kilogram

Food and drinks on your Monarch Airlines flight
If you’re feeling peckish on your Monarch Airlines flight, you can buy refreshments onboard

Some example Buy-on-board prices

Muffin and hot drink : £4
Sandwich, drink and snack : £7.50
Other hot meals available through the “Manage my Booking”

Travelling with children on Monarch Airlines
These are leisure and low-cost airlines, so don’t expect free gifts or activity packs for the little ones!

Infants receive 10kg baggage allowance
Pushchairs and car seats will be carried free of charge.
Travel cots may be carried in the hold but must form part of the 10kg infants baggage allowance.

Monarch Airlines customer reviews
“Seats were fine for 3.5 hour flight, might be slightly less so on a longer flight, as Monarch have ceased long haul not a problem”
“The fixed angle of seat back is good (a compromise between fully upright and reclined) so there are no hassles with the passenger in front depriving you of your legroom”
“Ordered meal online both ways (very tasty for an aircraft meal). Sitting in Row 10 finished the meal before the drinks trolley arrived”
“Meal service was at the expected level for a budget operator”

NEPAL: Nepal Airlines Flies To Bangalore Soon And Mumbai

The national airline of Nepal will open two "new" Indian roads from its base in Kathmandu Bangalore and Mumbai.

From 1 September 2015, Nepal Airlines will operate a new route to Bangalore in southern India, flights, without competition, operated by Boeing 757-200 aircraft, configured for 190 seats including 16 seats in Business class, leaving three Once a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, departing at 12:40, arrival at 15:25 in Bangalore flight back starting again at 4:25 p.m. ET arrival in Nepal at 19.40.

This time from September 2, 2015, and after 6.5 years of interruption, Nepal Airlines reopen the connection between Kathmandu and Bombay (Mumbai). The flights, operated this time Airbus A320 configured for 158 seats including 8 in Business class, the rest in the economy class, and in competition with Jet Airways, will depart three times a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 14:00 Kathmandu (arrive in Mumbai at 16:30); return flight at 5:25 p.m. for a landing in Kathmandu at 20:10, flight numbers being the same as those used in 2009 (RA201 and RA202).

Nepal Airlines, part of airlines on European black list since December 2013, already connects Delhi, Patna and Kolkata in India, its fleet with nine aircraft (2 A320, Boeing 757-200 2, 1 Xian MA-60 (+ 1 still to be delivered), 3 de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 1 and Harbin Y-12 (+ 3 still to be delivered).

NEPAL: Nepal Airlines Flies To Bangalore Soon And Mumbai

The national airline of Nepal will open two "new" Indian roads from its base in Kathmandu Bangalore and Mumbai.

From 1 September 2015, Nepal Airlines will operate a new route to Bangalore in southern India, flights, without competition, operated by Boeing 757-200 aircraft, configured for 190 seats including 16 seats in Business class, leaving three Once a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, departing at 12:40, arrival at 15:25 in Bangalore flight back starting again at 4:25 p.m. ET arrival in Nepal at 19.40.

This time from September 2, 2015, and after 6.5 years of interruption, Nepal Airlines reopen the connection between Kathmandu and Bombay (Mumbai). The flights, operated this time Airbus A320 configured for 158 seats including 8 in Business class, the rest in the economy class, and in competition with Jet Airways, will depart three times a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 14:00 Kathmandu (arrive in Mumbai at 16:30); return flight at 5:25 p.m. for a landing in Kathmandu at 20:10, flight numbers being the same as those used in 2009 (RA201 and RA202).

Nepal Airlines, part of airlines on European black list since December 2013, already connects Delhi, Patna and Kolkata in India, its fleet with nine aircraft (2 A320, Boeing 757-200 2, 1 Xian MA-60 (+ 1 still to be delivered), 3 de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 1 and Harbin Y-12 (+ 3 still to be delivered).