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2000 Frequent Flyer Program News
News Center & ArchivesAER LINGUS will launch flights on 6 September to Washington from Dublin via Shannon, three times per week. It is expected to be increased to a daily flight for the summer of 2001. http://www.aerlingus.ie
AIR CANADA - DELTA AIR LINES: Star Alliance airline Air Canada, which recently took over Canadian Airlines, has teamed up with Delta Air Lines, who has an alliance with Air France, on a code share between each of their carriers major hubs, including Atlanta, the world's largest. The commercial agreement will come into effect on 29 October in conjunction with the commencement of Air Canada's winter schedule. http://www.aircanada.ca and http://www.delta-air.com
AIR CANADA With the integration of Canadian Airlines into the airline, a clutch of new cross-border services is now available. Starting last month were new daily non stops between LAX and Edmonton; Las Vegas-Toronto; Ontario, Calif.-Toronto and Denver-Montreal. San Francisco-Toronto gets a fourth daily nonstop. New regional services flown by AirBC include a twice-daily run between Spokane and Vancouver, while Seattle-Vancouver goes up to nine a day, Portland-Vancouver to six a day and Denver-Winnipeg to two a day. Air Canada will also serve Honolulu from Toronto as an intermediate stop on its new run to Sydney.
In another North Atlantic move Air Canada has inaugurated daily nonstop flights between Amsterdam and Toronto, using a Boeing 767-200. Founded way back in 1937, Air Canada is currently in the process of acquiring Canadian Airlines, the country's second largest carrier. http://www.aircanada.ca
AIR FRANCE inaugurates nonstop Philadelphia-Paris flights March 26, with an A310-300 flying the Charles de Gaulle route once daily, offering some nice on-line connections to Nice, Venice, Marseilles, Athens, Mumbai and Barcelona.
All Concorde flights have been grounded since the Paris crash. The operating license for the aircraft was revoked mid August. Air France president and chief executive Jean-Cyril Spinetta said recently that his airline hoped to resume supersonic services "within several months". In another positive move from across the Channel Transport Minister Jean-Claude Gaysott reiterated the comments telling the National Assembly that Concorde operations would resume within "reasonable" time. British Airways continues to put a very positive face on the situation, Mike Street, Director of Customer Service leading the progress and strategy group.
Air France has followed up the introduction of its new in flight services announced in February of this year with a second launch mainly centering on an enhanced business class for its long haul operations and the much improved Tempo (economy) cabin, featuring a new interior predominately in the French national blue. In First Class the seats now stretch out 180 degrees to allow passengers to recline full length.
Within Europe, AF successful three class operation remains the status quo with "Tempo" for discounted economy passengers, "Tempo Plus" for full fare payers and a proper two plus two business class. On long haul flights two menus will be offered in Tempo, terroirs francais "French country cuisine" and Cuisine de Monde "world food".
Air France is to drop its Paris CDG-Brussels service at the end of the winter season in response to the growing demand for rail travel between the capitals. Operations between both cities have been viewed as difficult to sustain largely due to the development of the high-speed train links that connect Paris and Brussels in 75 minutes and the very short flying time involved. There will now be five TGV services daily from Brussels to the CDG Terminal 2 railway station timed to connect with the main AF flight banks. Sabena will continue to serve CDG but has dropped Orly. Parent SAirGroup is attempting to develop Orly as a Parisian alternative. http://www.airfrance.fr
AIR PARTNER, the listed charter broker, has opened a "Real Time" aircraft charter availability web site. For the first time, airlines who need replacement aircraft in a hurry can locate and book suitable substitutes at the touch of a button. Air Partner online currently provides an instant display of all aircraft spare capacity available throughout Europe but it will be extended worldwide during the next 12 months. http://www.airpartner.com
AMERICAN AIRLINES is laying on three to five extra inches of extra legroom for coach flyers. This is a breakthrough move. American is ripping out a couple of rows of seats from its airplanes. All coach passengers will get extra room, no matter how far back they are in the aircraft.
American which operates a formidable Chicago O'Hare hub, is laying on three to five extra inches of extra legroom for flyers in the back of the bus. American is ripping out a couple of rows of seats from its airplanes. All coach flyers will get extra room, no matter how far back they are in the aircraft. United recently added extra seat pitch for flyers in the front of the coach cabin. AA says half of its domestic fleet would be reconfigured by June. The entire ensemble should be reworked by year's end. The international fleet gets the treatment starting this fall, with work slated for completion by the second quarter of 2001.
American started replacing old airplanes with new ones out of Miami International, its primary gateway to Latin America. Starting March 1, American began replacing aging 727s with new 737-800s. In June, look for 777s to begin taking the place of 767s and MD-11s on some routes.
American is doing away with daily Chicago O'Hare-Zurich service June 1. From then on, AA's Swiss service will operate Dallas/Fort Worth-Zurich. American starts daily Chicago O'Hare -Rome service June 1 with a 767-300 ER. Here's an interesting route for flyers who want to travel to Brazil on American and avoid Miami. Beginning April 2, the carrier will begin flying Orlando-Sao Paulo-Rio de Janeiro using 767s. Most of AA's international routes go through its hubs.
American will open "Park Avenue" at Heathrow early in 2001, a new concept in check-in facilities for premium passengers. First and Business Class clients will completely bypass Heathrow Terminal 3 check-in area, can drive up directly to the canopied entrance to Park Avenue, check-in and go straight to the lounge or departure gate. Park Avenue will be a purpose built drive up check-in facility with its own car lane situated opposite the existing Terminal 3 departures building at Heathrow. http://www.aa.com
AMERICAN TRANS AIR will serve Cancun nonstop from Los Angeles each Sunday from May 13 to September 24 with an L1011 in an all-coach configuration. http://www.ata.com
AMSTERDAM SCHIPHOL has also opened the first airport cyber café or, as they call it, communications centre. Located on the second floor of the airport's Central Lounge, it is open daily from 0600 hours - 2300 hours. The centre offers 28 broadband high speed Internet workstations as well as eight mini offices equipped with personal computers, Internet, printer/copier, fax and telephone for passengers wishing to work in a quieter environment. Passengers can also purchase telephone cards, batteries, stamps and stationery. The Communication Center also handles tax refunds for non-EU residents. Internet workstations will cost NLG4.50 (approximately £1.30) for 15 minutes use and NLG9 (approximately £2.65) for 45 minutes use. Fully equipped mini offices are available at a cost of NLG35 (approximately £10.30) per 30 minutes use. http://www.schiphol.nl
AUSTRIAN AIRLINES has launched daily non stops from Chicago to Vienna, using A340s to fly the route. Connections should be good at ORD. Austrian, like O'Hare-hubbed United, is a member of the Star Alliance. March 26 was the planned launch date of Austrian Airlines' new Washington Dulles-Vienna service, with A330s making the trip Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The twin-engine, long-range Airbuses are configured with 30 business (Grand Class) seats and 235 economy seats. http://www.aua.com and http://www.austrianair.com
BRITISH AIRWAYS is out to redefine business class by installing flat beds. The centerpiece of the effort is an armchair-style seat the carrier calls a "lounge in the sky," which converts to a six-foot-long, lay-flat bed. BA is also adding a fourth class of service to the intercontinental fleet. World Traveler Plus will be a peg below business class, a peg above economy, with five rows of 2-4-2 seats each offering a humane 38 inches of pitch. Look for the goodies to debut in July between London and New York
The airline has introduced a series of discount fares on its long haul Club World product, giving savings up to 35%. These are expected to prove popular, particularly for the growing premium leisure market. Holiday makers must book and pay for their trips 30 days in advance. A new discount structure has also been introduced for First Class on certain routes, including New York JFK, San Francisco and Hong Kong.
Concorde passengers will have the benefit of new lounges being created by Sir Terence Conran with the New York JFK example now open and London LHR following shortly. New glass piers for direct boarding give passengers a superb view of Concorde as they board. The Express Suiter service is designed to deliver overnight bags within eight minutes of arrival.
Club World passengers will shortly see the new terrace lounge concept at London LHR Terminal 4 and New York JFK. The Terrace concept includes some nine different areas, each one designed for a specific use. Typically, the library is a peaceful oasis in which to read, work and relax with a selection of books. It is "phones free". There is a "wine bar area" and a "cappuccino bar". However, business travelers will all be pleased to note that children eligible for the lounge have their own "toy box". Smokers have a dedicated room with its own television and air conditioning. BA's arrivals lounges have been a great success with Heathrow open until 1600 hours and Gatwick up to 1400 hours. For the more energetic, each has a mini gym to loosen up after your journey.
Following an extended trial period over the last few months BA has now fully implement its new Club World business class on all its six daily return flights from London LHR to New York JFK. The twice daily Hong Kong route follows in August. Over the next 18 months the complete BA fleet of 67 Boeing 747s and 19 B777s will benefit from the upgrade which includes the facility to turn the new armchair style seat into a completely flat six foot bed. At the same time the airline is introducing World Traveler Plus, featuring a dedicated cabin, wider seat offering significantly more leg room, in-seat PC power and telephone, double hand baggage allowance and an enhanced service at an affordable premium for the cost conscious traveler.
All Concorde flights have been grounded August 15 due to the fact that the operating license for the aircraft was revoked. See Air France entry for the latest news.
British Airways will offer its new World Traveler Plus full fare economy product on all seven daily services between London Heathrow and New York JFK. World Traveller Plus has its own dedicated cabin with up to 40 wider seats with 38" pitch (compared with 31" in World Traveller), all equipped with in-seat power and telephones. Each seat back includes a 12 channel television offering films, comedy, drama and news programs. World Traveler Plus will now be introduced on to the Hong Kong and San Francisco routes and phased in with the rest airline's long haul fleet over the next year.
http://www.british-airways.comBRUSSELS AIRPORT has launched an interesting concept in airport mobility that could catch on worldwide. 'Airportstop' is a new service that offers to the passenger the opportunity to find carpool partners to travel to and from the airport. Registering is very easy, both for those offering available space in their car, and for those looking for a ride. They can browse through the available offers or requests before actually registering. This service is free of charge. It is integrated in the Brussels Airport website : http://www.brusselsairport.be
CATHAY PACIFIC has put the finishing touches to its long haul First Class cabin fleet upgrade program becoming one of the first airlines to complete the latest round of premier class innovations and improvements. The new cabin features 12 private luxurious beds in eight singles and two doubles configuration. For complete privacy, all positions have an aisle divider and double seats have a divider between them. First Class Dining is now a la carte at a time to the choice of the passenger. The redesigned galley has been equipped with rice cookers and toasters so passengers can now have the freshest cuisine including steamed rice, congee, eggs and toast. A buffet table offers even more flexibility. Unlike some carriers Cathay Pacific has dedicated First Class cabin crew who receive special training. In Hong Kong, Concierge Check-in allows First Class passengers to call a special number before leaving for the airport where they are greeted upon arrival with boarding passes and baggage tags and transferred direct to the exclusive Wings Lounge. http://www.cathaypacific.com
CONTINENTAL adds a second daily New York EWR-Tel Aviv departure using 777s on June 20. Continental makes its Newark-Lima run a daily affair beginning June 14. There's continuing service to Santiago. Pending government approval, Continental will inaugurate daily New York Newark-Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic service in June, using 737-300s with 12 first class and 112 economy seats.
Continental is to launch on 1 March 2001 the world's longest non-stop scheduled twin engine aircraft service, a 16 hour 7,337nm Boeing 777 flight between New York and Hong Kong. It will also be the first time that the two cities have been linked directly.
Continental has opened a splendid new panoramic Presidents Lounge overlooking the runway at London Gatwick providing accommodation for four times the number of its previous facility. The lounge is also available to arrival passengers and features showers and office facilities. A separate area has been set aside for children.
Continental presently flies twice daily to Newark-New York from London LGW (and also from BHX, MAN & GLA) and daily to Cleveland and Houston. The airline has indeed had a momentous few weeks, firstly unveiling continuing profitability (marking the 22nd consecutive profitable quarter and the highest third quarter earnings per share in company history), the introduction of the 767-400 ER and the announcement of London Stansted-New York Newark. Early in the New Year, the airline will open landside a dedicated arrivals lounge with direct access to the limousine pickup point for BusinessFirst customers. Barry Simon, senior vice-president international, used the opportunity of the lounge opening to confirm that the airline expects to service 30 cities in Europe within the next three to five years. The carrier is carefully looking at the Scandinavian market, where it has no presence, and is also considering Barcelona. Other obvious gaps in Continental's European network include Berlin, Munich and Moscow. http://www.continental.com
DELTA adds an Atlanta-Bermuda flight that connects with its existing Los Angeles-Atlanta and San Francisco-Atlanta runs and direct one-stop service from both SFO and LAX to Hamilton, Bermuda will begin April 2. Delta and Aeromexico now code share on the latter's Saturday and Sunday service between Atlanta and Cozumel. More Latin American long-hauls from Delta's Atlanta mega hub: On June 1, the carrier intends to begin thrice-weekly ATL-Rio de Janeiro nonstops. Heretofore, Delta has been restricted to serving ATL-GIG via an intermediate stop in Sao Paulo. Delta will use 767-300 ERs to fly down to Rio.
http://www.delta-air.comEASYJET is to commence direct services from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to Edinburgh, Belfast and Nice from 5 January 2001. There will be twice-daily flights to Edinburgh, and daily services to Belfast and Nice. EasyJet says that the services are the first step in the process of establishing Amsterdam as a new base airport. The airline already operates flights to Schiphol from Luton, Liverpool and Geneva. A 20 year agreement has also been "agreed in principal" between easyJet and Liverpool Airport which includes a commitment to base seven aircraft at the airport by 2003. http://www.easyjet.com
EUROSTAR has introduced a 10 minute check-in time for all customers holding fully flexible tickets. During the peak morning and evening periods, frequencies are now at least once per hour and often half hour to Paris, with the first Waterloo departure at 0515, Ashford 0615, arriving Paris Gare du Nord 0915, all times local. 2113 is the last departure from Paris. http://www.eurostar.com/eurostar
LONDON CITY AIRPORT has officially opened four brand new eating places, including, impressively, The Meriden Line, a full service restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner where you can sit and watch the aircraft arriving and departing. Developed by Carestl, a well known Belgian based group who have catering interests across Europe, LCY is their first UK retail venture. The MD is Michael Gottlieb, the well known London food writer, restaurateur and founder of Smollensky's Balloon and Cafe Spice restaurants. Adjacent to The Meridian Line is Yeager's Bar, Café and Lounge which provides simpler refreshments all day long in a more informal atmosphere. Airside is the Trattoria for breakfast and later in the day fresh pasta and seafood. Positioned centrally in the departure lounge is Marché Fraise offering salads, baguettes, pastries and a range of hot and cold drinks. One word of warning though. LCY is a business users airport. The restaurant prices reflect the up-market operation. http://www.londoncityairport.com
LUFTHANSA passengers can now use laptops with CD-Rom drives and DVD players on board, after German authorities lifted their restrictions on the use of electronic devices in the air. All electronic equipment must stay off during take-off and landing. In addition, the airline is supplying an on-board power supply for laptops to enable a direct connection without an adaptor. All first and business class seats on Lufthansa's long-range aircraft are now fitted with their own socket, which fits standard European and US plugs. http://www.lufthansa.com
LUFTHANSA - UNITED AIRLINES have started a joint venture on trans-Atlantic routes, forging closer ties as U.S. and European rivals consider mergers. The routes, begun in June, are Dusseldorf-Newark, Dusseldorf-Chicago, San Francisco-Frankfurt, San Francisco-Munich and Milan-Washington.
The venture will allow Lufthansa and United to share revenue equally, expanding a pact that enabled the two airlines to sell seats on each other's flights for the past six years.
It is the latest step for closer integration between the 13 partners in the Star Alliance, the world's biggest airline grouping, led by Lufthansa and United. The cooperation is also Star's answer to new rivals in Europe, where Air France last week formed its SkyTeam alliance with Delta Air Lines and where British Airways is in merger talks with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. http://www.lufthansa.com and http://www.ual.com
MALAYSIA AIRLINES has introduced a brand new 10,000 sq ft "Golden Lounge" at Heathrow Terminal 3, one the largest in the complex. Modeled on its flagship lounge at Kuala Lumpur the new London suite features a bistro showers, sauna, mini-gym, computer games, business center, private sleeping areas, relaxation room and a nursery. Malaysia flies daily to KL. http://www.malaysiaairlines.com
MEXICANA is now flying between LAX and San Salvador, El Salvador, twice a week via Mexico City and Guatemala. Flights operate Tuesday. http://www.mexicana.com
NORTHWEST announced a major change to its fare structure, offering flyers a 40 percent discount off regular, unrestricted full coach when tickets are purchased 10 days in advance. The deal's called "BizFlex." There's no Saturday night stay over required, and these tickets are available in most Northwest domestic markets and in Canada. The only provisos: Flyers have to stay over at least one night, and there's a $75 change fee. Northwest was slated to start flying a second daily Detroit-Mexico City trip on January 31, using an A319. http://www.nwa.com
ONEWORLD: Aer Lingus & Lanchile have officially become active members of the Oneworld alliance. The two newcomers take the total number of destinations served by Oneworld members to 559 worldwide. Oneworld carriers now employ over a quarter of a million staff and operate around 1,850 aircraft. http://www.aerlingus.ie and http://www.lanchile.com
QANTAS is boosting service, just in time for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, starting in June, there will be five, instead of three, weekly New York JFK-Sydney departures. http://www.qantas.com.au
QATAR AIRWAYS is to add a second daily flight, on Monday and on Saturday, to its non-stop Doha schedule giving in total nine flights per week. Launched in 1994, the airline introduced flights to the UK in 1995 and moved to Heathrow in 1997. Airbus A300-600R in a 12/18/194 configuration are used for the services. http://qatarairways.com
SINGAPORE AIRLINES The carrier now boasts what it calls "the largest video screens in the sky." These 14-inch displays in first class are coupled to Dolby surround-sound headphones that can "cancel" wind noise and engine sounds. http://www.singaporeair.com
SWISSAIR seems to have won the latest round in the First Class air battle with the completion of the refurbishment of its complete long-haul fleet, albeit a much smaller fleet than most carriers. Unveiled last October and debuted in commercial service in December the new First Class is available in all Swissair's MD-11 and Airbus A330 aircraft. A feature is a 201 cm flat bed. Say so long to Swissair's last 747-300, it left the fleet in April, the aircraft was in service since 1982. The carrier is replacing the Boeings with A330-200s and A340-600s.
The airline is reported to be planning to introduce handcuffs on board to help cabin crew to restrain violent passengers. The carrier has already started training staff to use the handcuffs - which will be introduced at the start of next year. Reports of aggressive or violent behaviour by Swissair passengers have grown significantly in recent years. The airline registered 502 such incidents last year, up from 285 in 1996. The airline says that it is authorised to order such measures if it adds to flight security adding "before we get out the handcuffs, there are other, gentler measures." http://www.swissair.com
UNITED AIRLINES will replace in Denver United Express and provide 737 or 727 jet service to Boise (four daily flights), Cedar Rapids (two daily flights), Memphis (two) and Wichita (three). On June 7, meanwhile, United Express will replace United proper on Denver-Sioux Falls and SFO-Monterey services, using BAe-146s and Dornier 328s on the Sioux Falls run and Embraer aircraft on the Monterey segment. In March resumes daily 747 service between San Francisco and Seoul. http://www.ual.com
US AIRWAYS has introduced an Airbus A330-300 on its twice daily Philadelphia-London/Gatwick and Philadelphia - Rome routes. The aircraft is configured with six First Class seats, 36 Envoy (Business) Class, also in a 2 + 2 + 2 configuration, and 176 economy/coach class seats eight abreast, with four seats in the middle, all passengers only one seat from the isle. All the seats feature a new Sony IFE unit giving a vast range of films, features and music and an in-flight telephone.
US Airways will introduce a daily Gatwick-Pittsburgh service on 17 July using a two class Boeing 767, again six abreast in Envoy Class and seven in economy. The airline's will upgrade transatlantic service with its new Airbus A330-300 widebody aircraft between its Philadelphia gateway and Manchester, and between its Pittsburgh hub and Gatwick, beginning in March 2001. The 266-seat aircraft, the largest in the US Airways' fleet, begins flying the Philadelphia-Manchester route effective 4 March, and the Pittsburgh-London (Gatwick) flight will be launched on 24 March.
Along with the Airbus A330-300 widebody aircraft for use in transatlantic operations, US Airways is receiving Airbus A320 family standard-body aircraft at the rate of about one per week. US Airways has firm orders, reconfirmable orders and options for as many as 400 Airbus A320 family aircraft. US Airways will be the first US carrier to fly the A321, which it will begin receiving next year for use in transcontinental service. http://www.usairways.com
VIRGIN ATLANTIC is gearing itself up for two new routes in the coming weeks. From 8 June it will operate twice weekly to Las Vegas from London-Gatwick. Initial feedback indicates that the Las Vegas route will go up to at least four services weekly within 12 months using Boeing 747 equipment. The first VS round trip outbound flight was three quarters full indicating an excellent local response from a vibrant mature local community with a strong requirement for business and leisure connections to Europe.
Virgin will also operate twice weekly Heathrow-Delhi code share with Air India will start on 5 July. LHR departures are on Wednesday and Friday at 2230. Both airlines will sell seats on these services in competition with one another. The code share agreement does not apply to other services operated by Air India. VS lead in prices start from UK£556 round trip for travel during July. A third weekly flight is planned for October.
Virgin Atlantic also said passengers could now receive calls to their mobile-phone numbers while in flight. "After boarding the aircraft, passengers simply swipe their card through the aircraft handset and dial a registration number. Callers on the ground just dial the normal mobile numbers and pay only for the normal ground call,'' Virgin Atlantic said in a statement. The head of Virgin, Richard Branson, said the phone service was the first of its kind to be offered by an airline.
Virgin has unveiled its first ever arrivals lounge. Called "Revivals" and situated land side at Heathrow Terminal 3 the lounge opens at 0400 and features 18 state-of-the art shower rooms. Also included is a business area, lounge and breakfast area plus a Virgin Touch salon specially designed to revitalize and prepare passengers for the day ahead. "Revivals" housekeeper facility offers valet service and shoe cleaning facilities.
Sir Richard Branson announced a tie-up with National Airlines, a 12 month old local low fare start-up which already flies to most of the Virgin US gateways. This will allow flexibility for Virgin customers and signified a Virgin interest in relationships with US domestic carriers. http://www.fly.virgin.com
Sources: Airlines, Airports and Air & Business Travel News http://www.abtn.co.uk
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