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Home Airlines Airports Destinations Fidelity Programs Travel Travel Tech Travel Tips Aircraft Air Safety Air Security Features Reviews NEWS News Center RSS News Center Business News World News Events FLIGHTS Flight Schedules Flight Status Travel Deals Travel Links Reservations Contact Us Site Map PUBLICATIONS Online Magazines Newsletters Business & Prof Books & eBooks ORDERS Subscriptions Order Center SERVICES Advertising Marketing Content Info Services Research Surveys CORPORATE About Us Press Center Contact Us	AirAsia Malaysian budget airline AirAsia is optimistic about travel demand as the US economic slowdown could mean passengers shifting to low-cost airlines, its chief executive said on Thursday. Low-cost carriers in Asia had proven to be more resilient than those in America and Europe, he said. Apr 4, 2008 AirAsia X, Airbus AirAsia X will exercise its 10 Airbus A330-300 options in a deal worth $2.1 billion, CEO Azran Osman Rani told media in Kuala Lumpur. It already has 15 of the type on firm order. A signing ceremony is expected to take place this week. Mar 31, 2008 V Australia V Australia, the long-haul international arm of Virgin Blue, announced yesterday that it will launch daily Sydney-Los Angeles on Dec. 15. It offered 1,000 fares at A$999 ($916) including taxes to celebrate the launch that were snapped up in minutes. Its standard economy return fare is A$1,899, which it claims is 16% lower than the current lowest available published fare. V Australia's 777-300ERs will be fitted with a three-class configuration including a business cabin with lie-flat seats. Premium economy will feature a 2-4-2 layout with 38-in. seat pitch, while economy will be 3-3-3. Apr 1, 2008 V Australia's new international product will include full service features including complimentary meals and beverages, and it will also be the only airline operating transpacific to offer passengers the ability to send and receive emails and text messages using GPRS devices such as BlackBerrys and mobile phones. Details on the schedule are thin, but it will be an evening departure from Sydney, allowing business travellers a full day's work in the Australian city before their flight. The Sydney-Los Angeles route was chosen after months of negotiations with 'a number of airports' on both sides of the pacific due to both being major gateway cities, with Virgin Blue offering a host of connections from Sydney and Northwest Airlines &endash; which is partnering with V Australia &endash; doing the same for the US market. The carrier plans to 'ramp up additional frequencies' on the route as it takes deliveries of more new 777s, and will announce two more destinations in the coming weeks. Economy fares will start from AUS$1,899 (£873) return and members of Virgin Blue's 'Velocity' loyalty programme will be able to 'earn and burn' miles on the international subsidiary. Apr 1, 2008 V Australia's premium fares also are well below those of Qantas, it claimed. Sydney-LA starts at A$10,000, more than A$3,000 less than Qantas's retail business class fare. Its premium economy return fare starts at A$4,200. Its inflight product includes AVOD and complimentary meals, wines, laptop power, USB ports and SMS/text capability from mobile phones. AeroMobile and Panasonic Avionics Corp. will provide BlackBerry and PDA technology. V Australia is expected to announce two additional destinations within two weeks. It also announced an interlining agreement with Northwest Airlines that will take effect with VA's first flight. NWA VP-Alliances Nat Pieper called it "the first phase" of the airlines' cooperation. Apr 1, 2008 Eight carriers have started or announced new international service to Los Angeles since October, while other foreign airlines, including Australia's Quantas, have expanded flights. The Los Angeles airport hasn't seen such a surge in international flights in at least a decade, Paul Haney, the airport's executive director, told the Los Angeles Times. The new Virgin flights, under the title of V Australia, would begin in mid-December and cost up to 16% less than existing services, the company said. Virgin intends to operate 10 weekly non-stop round-trip flights between Los Angeles and Sydney. Mar 31, 2008 V Australia, Virgin Blue Virgin Blue's new international subsidiary V Australia will begin competing on the recently liberalized transpacific market from December with daily direct flights from Sydney to Los Angeles, subject to regulatory approval. The airline began selling seats Mar. 31 for the inaugural service scheduled to begin on 15 December. A Boeing 777-300ER will offer a three-class cabin, with International Business, International Premium Economy and International Economy. Business class seats will be lie-flat to 77" (195cm) in length; 40 premium economy seats will be 20" wide, giving a 9" recline, and offer a minimum 38" of legroom; economy will be in a 3x3x3 configuration, with 18.8" seat width and 32" legroom. Qantas has been the only Australian carrier permitted to fly to the US, but in February US and Australian governments agreed an 'open skies' deal which liberalised the transpacific market just as the equivalent agreement has done between the US and EU. Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Blue co-founder, said: "The transpacific route is in dire need of competition and a good shake-up and that's a challenge we are always keen to take on. Mar 31, 2008 Virgin Blue Hundreds fooled by airline prank in Australia. More than 1000 people tried to book standing-room only flights advertised by budget airline Virgin Blue as part of an April Fool's Day joke in Brisbane. Virgin's "No Chair Fares" were promoted in newspapers and on radio, offering half-price tickets to anyone willing to stand on any domestic flight, with complimentary calf massages thrown in for flights longer than two hours. About 1000 people responded to the bogus ads online by trying to book a ticket. A further 100 called the company directly. A Virgin Blue spokeswoman said the marketing prank had certainly "pulled the wool" over the eyes of the hopeful travelers. "We must admit we have caught out a lot people who have called up to book a No Chair Fare," the spokeswoman said. "It seems there are plenty of travelers who would happily stand for the duration of a flight. "Thankfully everyone has had a good sense of humor." Members of Virgin Blue's marketing team plotted the joke over casual after-work drinks. "Someone mentioned April Fools day was coming up so we thought we'd use the opportunity to do something different to get in on the spirit of April Fools," she said. "In true Virgin style we were being a little cheeky and decided to have a bit of fun." Apr 1, 2008	What's New? News Aircraft News Airline News - Africa / Middle East - Asia - Europe - Latin America / Carib - North America Low Cost Airline News - Africa / Middle East - Asia - Europe - Latin America / Carib - North America Airport News - Africa / Middle East - Asia - Europe - Latin America / Carib - North America Destination News Car Rental News Hotel News Fidelity Program News Travel News Travel Health News Travel Tech News Travel Safety News Travel Security News
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