Canada's Transportation Safety Board investigate Flair Airlines runway overrun.......

Investigations are underway in Ontario Canada after a Flair Airlines 737 jet overshot the runway on arrival at Kitchener-Waterloo airport on Friday morning. The aircraft, registration C-FFLC had taken off from Vancouver International Airport (YVR) on Thursday evening at approximately 23:35 and overshot the tarmac in Waterloo shortly before 06:30 the following morning.  

Flair Airlines issued a brief statement saying that "F8501 from YVR to Kitchener-Waterloo exited the runway at the end of its landing. There were no reported injuries. Passengers deplaned the aircraft and were taken to the terminal by bus. The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew is our top priority." but has since refused to make any further statement. 

There were no reported injuries among the 134 passengers or six crew on board at the time of the incident and One passenger told local CTV News that nobody on the plane knew what to do and it was more than an hour before they could get off the aircraft.

Another passenger told them that the aircraft was 'dancing on the runway a bit. It was moving side to side' although despite the bumpy landing most of the passengers in his area of the aircraft seemed calm. 'Oops, we missed the runway'  the passenger said, telling his row mate, ‘we’re in the grass.’. 

Some passengers report receiving texts from the budget airline asking them how their experience flying with them was and asking them to leave a review.

The airport was closed for a while, however, local officials advised “The aircraft has been recovered and the Transportation Safety Board continues to conduct an investigation.  - The  airport has returned to regular operations.”

Commercial flights in and out of Region of Waterloo International Airport were cancelled Friday after a Flair Airlines plane carrying 140 people overran the runway during landing. https://t.co/BI7zFA2Tu8

— CTV Kitchener (@CTVKitchener) November 26, 2022

#FlairAirlines Boeing 737-800 (C-FFLC) went off runway during landing at #Waterloo Airport, #Canada. Flight #F8501 departed from #Vancouver with 134 passengers and 6 cabin crew on board. Crew and passengers are safe.

🎥 Rumbie Muzofa/Twitter#Boeing #B737 pic.twitter.com/zQvfDZTdQX

— FlightMode (@FlightModeblog) November 26, 2022

Air France takes delivery of ‘Angers’, its twentieth A350-900

Air France continues to integrate latest-generation aircraft, with an improved economic and environmental performance, into its fleet.

On 25 November 2022, the airline welcomed its twentieth Airbus A350-900 into its fleet, registration F-HTYT. The aircraft has rolled off the Airbus assembly line in Toulouse and has completed its ferry flight to Paris-Charles de Gaulle, where it will operate on the airline’s long-haul routes.

It will make its first commercial flight on 26 November 2022, flying to Lima (flight AF480).

The front of the fuselage bears the name “Angers”, a tribute to this city in the West of France once home to the kings of France.

Since 2019 and the delivery of its first Airbus A350, Air France has revived the tradition of naming its aircraft after French towns. Before « Angers », Air France named its previous 19 Airbus A350 « Toulouse », « Lyon », « Saint-Denis de la Réunion », « Nice », « Bordeaux », « Marseille », « Reims », « Dijon », « Saint-Malo », « Cannes », « Aubusson », « Pointe-à-Pitre », « Fort-de-France », « Chambord », « Cayenne », « Lille », « Menton », « Deauville » and « Biscarosse ».

In total, the airline has ordered 38 Airbus A350-900s, with deliveries continuing at a steady pace through 2025.

By 2030, latest generation aircraft (Airbus A350s, Boeing 787s, Airbus A220s) will make up 70% of the Air France fleet - compared to 7% today – thanks to an ambitious investment plan of one billion euros per year.

The latest generation of environmentally friendly aircraft

The Airbus A350-900 symbolizes the transition to more sustainable air transport. It consumes 25% less fuel (2.5 litres per passenger per 100 kilometres) than an equivalent-sized, older airliner, thanks to the use of lighter materials: 53% composites and 14% titanium. Its noise footprint is also reduced by 40%.

The best of Air France onboard the Airbus A350

The Airbus A350 has 324 seats, with 34 in the Business cabin, 24 in the Premium Economy cabin and 266 in the Economy cabin.

On board, customers enjoy

a spacious cabin in Business, Premium Economy and Economy,

30% larger windows,

an optimized air pressure system, providing a more comfortable cabin atmosphere with regularly renewed air,

lighting adapted to the different phases of the flight.

To stay connected on board the Airbus A350, customers can access Air France CONNECT, the in-flight Wi-Fi service.

20 destinations to discover onboard the Airbus A350 this winter

This winter, the Air France Airbus A350 will serve 20 destinations on four continents on departure from Paris-Charles de Gaulle: Atlanta, Chicago, Miami and Seattle (United States), Montreal (Canada), Mexico City (Mexico), San José (Costa Rica), Lima (Peru), Sao Paulo (Brazil), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Santiago de Chile (Chile), Conakry (Guinea), Bamako (Mali), Brazzaville (Republic of the Congo), Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Cairo (Egypt), Tel Aviv (Israel), Beirut (Lebanon), Delhi and Bangalore (India).

Emirates makes UAE National Day.....

 

Celebrating the 51st UAE National Day on 2 December, Emirates is marking the occasion with a range of activities, from new design motifs and lighting schemes in its aircraft cabins, to traditional Arabic sweets served onboard and in the Emirates Lounges in Dubai, to an exclusive UAE commemoration watch for sale on EmiratesRED.

Marking the union of the seven emirates, UAE National Day is celebrated on 2 December and onboard Emirates - passengers in all classes departing Dubai will be given an Emirati-inspired sweet treat, Qahwa or coffee-flavoured milk chocolate in a giftbox adorned with Arabic calligraphy. Passengers visiting Emirates Lounges in Dubai can enjoy miniature date tarts laced with Arabic coffee cream, or a delicately whipped and creamy date mousse. Passengers can also be on the lookout as they board aircraft in Dubai and disembark at their destination, as colourful mood lighting representing the UAE flag illuminates the aircraft interior. In another subtle touch, Emirates’ multi-award-winning ice inflight entertainment system will bear the iconic Ghaf tree, which is emblematic of the UAE. The new artistic motif is also used as a design highlight throughout Emirates’ newest Boeing 777 and A380 aircraft interiors. The national Ghaf tree is a historic and cultural symbol of stability and peace in the UAE's desert environment.

UAE National Day | Seasonal Occasions | The Emirates Experience | Emirates

SAS to start new service between Copenhagen Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York

On February 9, SAS will launch its new route between Copenhagen Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. The new route enables SAS customers to travel easily from both the West and East side of New York as SAS continues to offer departures from Scandinavia to Newark.

Through the launch of its new route to JFK in New York, SAS will offer its customers frequent departures to this convenient and efficient airport with easy access to and from New York as well as many connecting flights to choose from.

JFK service begins with five weekly flights from Copenhagen, ramping up with daily flights for the summer schedule. SAS will be operating into terminal 7 at JFK.

“We are very pleased to launch our new route to JFK. SAS offers a solid product to Newark Airport from Scandinavia, and we believe that this addition to JFK from Copenhagen will strengthen the New York offer to our customers. The US is a strategic market for SAS, and we will continue to develop new routes and destinations whenever the right opportunity presents itself,” says Erik Westman, EVP & CCO, Network and Revenue management.

US destinations continue to generate demand for more and frequent departures. SAS will offer about 130 departures per week on a total of 12 routes this winter. The airline has scheduled the flights with Airbus A321neo aircraft. 

Schedules to and from JFK:

Winter 2022

Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday

CPH-JFK: 18:25 - 21:30

JFK-CPH: 23:00 - 12:55

Summer 2023

Daily

CPH-JFK: 19:20 - 22:00

JFK-CPH: 23:55 - 13:45

For great value hotels in New York State please visit Radisson Hotels.  

Find out more and book your flight today on flysas.com.

Millennium Hotel Broadway Times SquareStay near Broadway at Millennium Hotel Broadway Times Square

Enjoy the best views of the Manhattan skyline from your room.....
While Broadway and Times Square are right outside your door in Midtown Manhattan, all the hustle and bustle of the city will be checked at the door once you arrive at Millennium Hotel Broadway Times Square. Instead, you’ll experience refreshingly friendly staff and a relaxing spot to unwind in the heart of the city.
With this incredible location, savvy travelers will love the value of our family-friendly, 4-star comfort hotel in Midtown Manhattan. Whatever you have planned for your next adventure in the ‘City that Never Sleeps’, we promise to keep it quiet.
 
Why you’ll love staying there:

Just a few steps away from world-renowned areas, Broadway and Times SquareA quiet escape in the New York’s buzzing Midtown ManhattanGreat value for money with boutique-style roomsCity and skyline views of New York City in every room through floor-to-ceiling windowsThere are only 4-7 rooms on each floor for added privacyHighly rated for fantastic service that includes multilingual staff membersA variety of meeting rooms to choose from, many with views of Manhattan

 M Social Hotel Times Square New York

The new M Social Hotel Times Square New York invites you to experience the electricity of Times Square. Surrounded by the bright lights and buzzing culture of NYC, you can explore the streets, then retreat to your own private oasis above the hustle and bustle. 

The distinctive, contemporary hotel rooms in Times Square are designed for all types of travellers to rest and re-energize in a unique style.

Signature restaurant Beast & Butterflies world cuisine keeps you charged up for all your Big Apple adventures. And when it’s time to get social with old friends and new, look no further than the Beast & butterflies bar.

Located in the heart of Manhattan, with Times Square view, the modern hotel is within walking distance to New York’s best attractions, including Broadway, the Theater district, Central Park, and Fifth Avenue.

Norwegian is extending the validity of CashPoints to those passengers who chose to be awarded these as a refund for cancelled flights during the pandemic in 2020.

Norwegian is extending the validity of CashPoints to those passengers who chose to be awarded these as a refund for cancelled flights during the pandemic in 2020. Passengers now have until the end of 2023 to spend these CashPoints.

“We are glad to announce that we have extended the validity of all CashPoints that were awarded to travellers who chose these as a refund for their cancelled flights in 2020. Although we experience that many of our passengers have returned to previous travel patterns, we acknowledge that not everyone might have had the opportunity to use their CashPoints as they would have liked. Now our passengers have until 31 December 2023 to spend these points”, says Christoffer Sundby, EVP Sales, Marketing & Customer Care in Norwegian.

Travellers may book their journey today and travel whenever and wherever they like. CashPoints may be used to pay for flight tickets (either partially or in full), checked baggage, seat reservations, pre-booked meals and more. There are no restrictions on the number of available seats per flight for those who want to use their earned points. This is the core of the Reward program's popularity and one of the main reasons it has been voted Loyalty Program of the Year in Europe & Africa, several times.

CashPoints are Norwegian’s digital currency. Norwegian Reward members earn CashPoints on flights, hotel bookings, rental cars and with other retail partners, then use them to get discounts on their future Norwegian flights.

Customers whose CashPoints will be extended will be contacted directly. Normal conditions apply to all other CashPoints.   Read more about Norwegian Reward here.

Top level leadership changes at Cathay Pacific

Augustus Tang to retire and Ronald Lam appointed Chief Executive Officer from 1 January 2023

The Cathay Pacific Group today announced a number of senior management appointments, effective over the next few months.

Augustus Tang, Chief Executive Officer, will retire from the Cathay Pacific Group on 31 December 2022. He will assume a new role at John Swire & Sons (H.K.) Ltd. effective 1 January 2023.

Ronald Lam, Chief Customer and Commercial Officer, will be appointed Chief Executive Officer effective 1 January 2023. He will continue to serve as Chair of HK Express. ​ Mr Lam joined the Cathay Pacific Group as a Management Trainee in 1996 and has since held a number of senior leadership roles in Hong Kong and overseas including Director Commercial & Cargo at Cathay Pacific, Director and GM Hong Kong Operations at Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (HAECO) and Chief Executive Officer of HK Express.

Lavinia Lau, Director of Customer Travel, will be appointed Chief Customer and Commercial Officer, replacing Mr Lam, and will also be appointed Executive Director on the Board of Cathay Pacific effective 1 January 2023. Lavinia Lau has been Director of Customer Travel, leading the Customer Travel business line that is accountable for the customer travel experience design, as well as the passenger commercial functions for Cathay Pacific, since 2021. Ms Lau joined the Swire Group as a Management Trainee in 1992 and has since held a number of senior leadership positions at Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong including General Manager Sales, Pearl River Delta and Hong Kong, and General Manager Planning. Ms Lau is Chair of The Board of Airline Representatives in Hong Kong (BAR) and Board member of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB).

Greg Hughes, Chief Operations and Service Delivery Officer since June 2017, will retire from the Swire Group after 36 years of service in 2023.

Alex McGowan, Director of Service Delivery, will be appointed Chief Operations and Service Delivery Officer and also Executive Director on the Board of Cathay Pacific effective 1 April 2023 upon Mr Hughes’ retirement from the Board. ​ Mr McGowan will also be appointed Chair of Cathay Pacific’s wholly owned all-cargo airline, Air Hong Kong, replacing Mr Hughes.  Alex McGowan has been Director Service Delivery, leading and supporting the global teams who provide Cathay Pacific’s customer experience inflight and on the ground, since 2020. In addition, he oversees the Cathay Pacific Group’s passenger service subsidiaries including Cathay Pacific Catering Services (H.K.) Limited, Hong Kong Airport Services Limited, Vogue Laundry Service Limited, and Shanghai International Airport Services Co., Limited. Mr. McGowan joined the Cathay Pacific Group in 2005 and has held various senior leadership positions including General Manager Aircrew and General Manager Strategic Transformation. Prior to joining Cathay Pacific, he worked for an international airline based in London and a technology startup in Seattle.

Wizz Air doubles capacity in Cyprus

An additional 800,000 seats are on sale from Larnaca with the total number of seats on sale rising to 1,900,000 from Cyprus 

Three new routes launching in 2022, with six routes operating with increased frequency

Wizz Air is further expanding its base in Cyprus, where it allocates two of its Airbus A321neo aircraft.

The allocation of these aircraft is enabling the launch of three new routes as well as increased frequency on six routes from Larnaca International Airport. The new routes can be already booked, with tickets available now at wizzair.com or on the airline's mobile app.

The allocation of two more aircraft to Wizz Air’s Larnaca base will grow the base to four aircraft. The move brings the number of routes from the base to 32, including the launch of three new routes from Cyprus’s third-largest city. Passengers will now be able to fly to Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, the additional capacity allows Wizz Air to increase the frequency of its flights from the base to Athens, London Luton, Prague, Tel Aviv, Thessaloniki, Yerevan.

"We are delighted to be expanding in Cyprus, demonstrating our commitment to growing our presence in the market by doubling the number of aircraft we will operate from the country. The allocation of these two additional aircraft in Larnaca allows us to further strengthen our market offer, providing our Cypriot customers the opportunity to travel on a total of 32 routes to 18 countries with us and increase the tourism to the island of love as well, connecting Cyprus with so many destinations” comments Robert Carey, President of Wizz Air.

Larnaca - Jeddah route starts on 08 July and operates on Saturdays until 16-Sep, then on Tuesdays, and Saturdays afterwards.

Larnaca - Dammam starts Saturdays from 04 July until 19 September on Saturdays, after that, it will be operated twice a week also on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Larnaca - Riyadh begins on 17 April to fly on Mondays until 19 June then it will operate on both Mondays and Fridays. 

LATAM & Delta announce non-stop service between São Paulo and LAX as Joint Venture’s 1st new market

LATAM will be the only airline operating a nonstop flight between Brazil and Los Angeles, where customers will have connections to the Delta hub's most popular destinations on the West Coast of the United States, including San Francisco, Las Vegas and Seattle.

Delta recently announced an increase in frequencies between North and South America, with weekly seats growing 130% in Chile and over 170% in Brazil this winter as ATL-SCL and JFK-GRU are increased to daily service and as Delta seasonally returns to Rio de Janeiro and adds a second daily trip in ATLGRU.

In total, the JV frequency adjustments add more than 23,000 weekly seats to connect North and South America like never before.

LATAM Airlines Group and Delta Air Lines made the first operational announcements after receiving the approval of their Joint Venture agreement in September. Among the initiatives, LATAM announced the launch of new service between São Paulo and Los Angeles beginning July 1, 2023, adding a popular destination not currently served from Los Angeles. Additionally, this new route offers customers access to the largest U.S.-South America corporate and overall market from LAX, where Delta is the largest global carrier.

The flight will have an initial frequency of three times per week on Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, with capacity for 410 passengers (38 in the Premium Business cabin, 50 in Economy+ and 322 in Economy). It will depart from São Paulo (Guarulhos) Airport at 11:05 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, arriving in Los Angeles at 7 a.m. the next day. From Los Angeles, flights will depart at 1 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, and will arrive in São Paulo (Guarulhos) at 5:20 a.m. the following day.

Passengers will be able to connect from LATAM’s hub in São Paulo to destinations in LATAM’s South American network, in addition to connections to the different destinations served by the group. Meanwhile, customers flying to Los Angeles will be able to quickly connect to several popular Delta West Coast destinations, including San Francisco, Las Vegas and Seattle. The new service between São Paulo and Los Angeles is available for booking now through delta.com or latam.com.

Another highlight of the announcement was the capacity increase on routes to and from the United States that will benefit customers of both partners. On the part of Delta Air Lines, the recently announced additional frequencies of the following routes include:

Atlanta-Santiago, Chile: The operation increased from three weekly flights between Atlanta and Santiago, Chile, to daily service on an Airbus A350, which is equivalent to more than 2,700 weekly additional seats between its main hub in the United States and Arturo Merino Benitez Airport.

Atlanta-Lima: The service will upgrade to an Airbus 350 aircraft in February, which translates into more than 1,700 extra weekly seats so that more customers can connect between Atlanta and Jorge Chávez Airport. Delta’s Airbus A350-900 aircraft has capacity for 339 passengers, and is equipped with Delta One, Delta Comfort+ and Main Cabin.

New York- São Paulo: Delta’s three weekly flights between its New York JFK hub and São Paulo increased to daily service beginning Oct. 29 with the Airbus A330-300 aircraft.

Atlanta-São Paulo: On Dec. 17, a seasonal second daily flight between Atlanta and Sao Paulo (GRU) will begin with Airbus A330 aircraft.

Atlanta-Rio de Janeiro: The popular seasonal route between Atlanta and Rio de Janeiro’s Galeão International Airport (GIG) will resume Dec. 17.

Miami-Orlando: Delta will launch a new daily service between Miami and Orlando on Dec. 1.

Miami Los Angeles: New daily service between Miami and Los Angeles will launch on Dec. 17.

In the case of the LATAM Group, the changes will be the following:

Marking the union of the seven emirates, UAE National Day is celebrated on 2 December and Dubai based Emirates is marking the day with a special range of activities onboard its planes......

 

Celebrating the 51st UAE National Day on 2 December, Emirates is marking the occasion with a range of activities, from new design motifs and lighting schemes in its aircraft cabins, to traditional Arabic sweets served onboard and in the Emirates Lounges in Dubai, to an exclusive UAE commemoration watch for sale on EmiratesRED.

Marking the union of the seven emirates, UAE National Day is celebrated on 2 December and onboard Emirates - passengers in all classes departing Dubai will be given an Emirati-inspired sweet treat, Qahwa or coffee-flavoured milk chocolate in a giftbox adorned with Arabic calligraphy. Passengers visiting Emirates Lounges in Dubai can enjoy miniature date tarts laced with Arabic coffee cream, or a delicately whipped and creamy date mousse. Passengers can also be on the lookout as they board aircraft in Dubai and disembark at their destination, as colourful mood lighting representing the UAE flag illuminates the aircraft interior. In another subtle touch, Emirates’ multi-award-winning ice inflight entertainment system will bear the iconic Ghaf tree, which is emblematic of the UAE. The new artistic motif is also used as a design highlight throughout Emirates’ newest Boeing 777 and A380 aircraft interiors. The national Ghaf tree is a historic and cultural symbol of stability and peace in the UAE's desert environment.

UAE National Day | Seasonal Occasions | The Emirates Experience | Emirates

Atlas Air takes delivery of a new Boeing 747-8 freighter aircraft - the first of two placed on long-term agreement with Kuehne+Nagel

 

Atlas Air, Inc., a subsidiary of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: AAWW) today announced it has taken delivery of a Boeing 747-8 Freighter. This aircraft is the third of four new Boeing 747-8 Freighters Atlas Air ordered in January 2021 and is the first of two 747-8Fs Atlas Air will operate for its customer Kuehne+Nagel under a long-term agreement.

“This 747-8F delivery underscores the importance of our long-term strategic partnership with Kuehne+Nagel and our commitment to support their continued growth and expansion,” said John Dietrich, President and Chief Executive Officer, of Atlas Air Worldwide. “We are pleased to provide their first dedicated aircraft which will proudly fly in a custom Kuehne+Nagel livery. The two 747-8Fs we will operate for Kuehne+Nagel will add more capacity and versatility for their network.”

Yngve Ruud, Member of the Management Board of Kuehne+Nagel, responsible for Air Logistics, said: "It is a very special moment for us to see Kuehne+Nagel 747-8F ‘Inspire.’ taking off. Together with the very last 747-8F that we named ‘Empower.’, these aircraft will support our customers with reliable and flexible solutions globally, continuing the legacy of the most incredible aviation programs in history. We are delighted to celebrate this with our partners Atlas Air and Boeing and looking forward to seeing our aircraft connecting the world.”

With more than 79,000 employees at over 1,300 sites in over 100 countries, the Kuehne+Nagel Group is one of the world's leading logistics providers. It operates in sea logistics, air logistics, road logistics and contract logistics, with a clear focus on integrated logistics solutions.

Atlas’ investment in these new aircraft underscores our ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship through the reduction of noise, aircraft emissions and resource consumption. With its advanced design and engines, the 747-8F offers a 16% improvement in fuel use and CO2 emissions per tonne and a 30% smaller noise footprint compared to the previous generation of aircraft.

"With Atlas Air taking delivery of the final 747s for its customer Kuehne+Nagel, this iconic Boeing aeroplane will continue to move cargo around the world for decades to come,” said Kim Smith, Vice President and General Manager of the Boeing 747/767 Program. "As we say goodbye to the ‘Queen of the Skies’, we’re proud of her legacy as an aeroplane that propelled aviation innovation and later laid the foundation for our family of freighters."

Atlas Air Worldwide is a leading global provider of outsourced aircraft and aviation operating services. It is the parent company of Atlas Air, Inc., and Titan Aviation Holdings, Inc., and is the majority shareholder of Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc. Our companies operate the world’s largest fleet of 747 freighter aircraft and provide customers the broadest array of Boeing 747, 777, 767 and 737 aircraft for domestic, regional and international cargo and passenger operations.

Double daily direct flights to Colombo with Emirates from Dubai from 1st December

The Dubai-based Emirates will be adding an additional daily direct flight between Dubai and Colombo, starting from 1 December 2022, to cater to the seasonal increase in the demand for travel.

The additional service, operating as EK648/EK649, will increase the number of daily flights between the two cities to three, including two direct flights and one operating via the Maldivian capital, Male.

Emirates’ second daily flight will operate direct between Dubai and Colombo, except during 16 to 30 December, when the service from Dubai to Colombo will stop over in Male.

From 1 to 15 December and from 31 December to 26 March, EK648 will depart Dubai at 16:10hrs daily and arrive in Colombo at 21:55hrs, all times local. Flight EK648 will be routed via Male from 16th to 30th December, and will during that period, depart Dubai at 10.30hrs and arrive in Male at 14.45hrs. It will then depart from Male at 17.15hrs and arrive in Colombo at 19.15hrs.

Throughout the period from 1 December to 26 March, flight EK649 is scheduled to depart Colombo at 02:55hrs and arrive in Dubai at 05:55hrs. 

*All times are local.

Emirates operates its modern Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in a three-class configuration on flights to Colombo, offering private suites in First Class, lie-flat seats in Business Class and spacious seats in Economy Class.  Travellers to and from Sri Lanka benefit from Emirates’ award-winning service and industry-leading products in the air and on the ground across all classes, with regionally-inspired dishes and complimentary beverages and the airline’s ice inflight entertainment system which offers up to 5,000 channels of on-demand entertainment in over 40 languages, including movies, TV shows, and an extensive musical library along with games, audiobooks and podcasts.

Emirates launched operations to Sri Lanka in 1986 and celebrated 36 years of operations to Colombo earlier this year. The airline signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau in 2022, reaffirming its commitment to Sri Lanka and outlining mutually beneficial initiatives that will help revive the country’s trade and tourism industry.

Book Emirates flights here

Fresh ocean breezes and a taste of the exotic greet you in the capital of Sri Lanka at Radisson Hotel Colombo.

Sri Lanka's diverse and tropical capital is home to the Radisson Hotel Colombo. The city centre and oceanfront hotel is just 700 meters from Wellawatte Beach and an easy drive or tuk-tuk ride from the city's popular neighbourhoods. The hotel has 158 thoughtfully-designed rooms and offers a medley of flavours at its dining venues with Sri Lankan and International cuisine. Radisson Hotel Colombo also features comfortable meeting rooms, a fitness centre, and a stylish rooftop with a bar, lounge, and an infinity pool.

Check prices and availability here. 

Book Emirates flights here

Etihad Airways streaming all FIFA Football World Cup Qatar 2022™ matches live

 

Football fans flying with Etihad Airways during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ can watch every match live onboard while in the air on Etihad’s E-BOX entertainment channels Sport 24 and Sport 24 Extra.

The live TV service is available onboard the airline’s fleet of wide-body aircraft connecting destinations in Europe, North America, Australia, Asia and Africa with its hub in Abu Dhabi. Guests looking to maximise their experience can visit etihad.com to view full match schedules.

To support the large influx of travellers to the region, Etihad Airways has increased flight capacity to Qatar, and is operating six daily flights between Abu Dhabi and Doha until 18 December 2022.

“Showing live football matches is an extension of Etihad’s extensive live tv programming and inflight entertainment. Many football fans from across the world will be flying to the region for the first time, and we look forward to extending our renowned Arabian hospitality to these guests” said Terry Daly, Executive Director Guest Experience, Brand and Marketing, Etihad Airways.

As well as the live football, Etihad’s guests can also stream other international sporting events such as the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Football League (NFL). Etihad’s E-BOX also features live global news channels and the latest movies from Hollywood, Bollywood and more.

Etihad Airways has been awarded the 2022 Passenger Choice Award for Best Entertainment in the Middle East by The Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX). APEX once again partnered with TripIt® from Concur®, the world’s highest-rated travel-organising app, to gather anonymous passenger feedback based on neutral, third-party passenger feedback and insights for the honour.

For the 2022 Awards, nearly one million flights were rated by passengers across more than 600 airlines from around the world using a five-star scale. On the same screen, passengers were given the opportunity to provide anonymous ratings in five subcategories: seat comfort, cabin service, food and beverage, entertainment, and Wi-Fi. The single screen rating allows airline passengers to easily rate their flight in less than 15 seconds.

London City and Leidos announce partnership to transform airport security experience

The best airport experience in London is about to get even better from April 2023. London City Airport is investing in replacing its existing conventional security X-ray machines with new, state-of-the-art, CT scanners, provided by Leidos.

 With close to 4 million passengers expected through London’s most central airport in 2023, the upgrade will mean travellers can leave everything in their hand luggage, as the new scanners eliminate the need to remove items, such as laptops and approved liquids, before going through the X-ray machine.

After being ranked ‘best performing UK airport for security queues’ by a recent Which? survey, London City Airport is set to offer an even better security experience, with the introduction of an all-CT scanner operation from April 2023

London City will be amongst the first UK airports to offer a full CT security proposition

The new scanners have been successfully trialled throughout 2022, delivering an even higher security performance, alongside an improved passenger experience

With the new technology from Leidos, passengers can leave everything in their hand luggage, meaning there will be no need to remove laptops and liquids from hand luggage

This follows a £12 million investment programme to modernise the airport’s departure lounge, which is set for completion by Summer 2023

 

And for LCY, already renowned for its unique passenger proposition of speed and convenience, the new CT scanners will mean an even faster and improved experience at the airport for passengers, which follows the airport’s separate £12 million departure lounge investment.

 Commenting on the upgrade, the airport’s Chief Operating Officer, Alison FitzGerald, said: “Following our one-lane trial this year, we know the new CT scanners are high performing and our passengers love them.

We are always challenging ourselves to make the LCY experience even better, so this, alongside the £12 million upgrade in the departure lounge will mean the journey through the airport in 2023 will be even slicker, with more space and better food & beverage and retail options.

Thanks to the Leidos solution, alongside speed, it also delivers the highest security specifications.”

 

Virgin Atlantic to start new services to the Maldives and Turks & Caicos islands next year.....

Photo turksandcaicostourism.com/

Virgin Atlantic will start flying to the idyllic islands of the Maldives as well as Turks & Caicos next year, the airline has confirmed. 

With crystal white sands and sheltered lagoons, the Maldives redefines paradise, in what is undoubtedly one of the most idyllic holiday destinations, offering luxurious relaxation and adventure. Travellers looking to treat themselves can experience world-class diving, surfing, fishing, kayaking and with over 1,000 coral islands to enjoy, there's no shortage of things to see or do.

Elsewhere, the stunning islands of the Turks & Caicos offer some of the most pristine white sand beaches, surrounded by the world’s clearest turquoise waters. Boasting an expansive barrier reef, home to vibrant coral, dolphins, turtles, stingrays and more, the islands make for a breath-taking playground for snorkelling and diving. This new destination is the latest addition to our Caribbean portfolio which follows new flying to the Bahamas in December 2021, St Vincent and the Grenadines in October 2021 and our highly anticipated return to St Lucia.  

Virgin Atlantic Deals

Virgin Atlantic will launch a winter seasonal three-times-weekly service to the Maldives from London Heathrow, which will go on sale on 30th November 2022, before commencing on 22nd October 2023. The airline will also launch a year-round twice weekly service to the Turks & Caicos which will go on sale from 11th January 2023, for flights starting on 15th November 2023 from London Heathrow. Both routes will be operated on the airline’s Boeing 787-9 aircraft boasting 31 Upper Class, 35 Premium and 192 Economy Delight, Classic and Light seats. Flight prices will be announced at a later date.

Experience seven nights in the exotic haven of the Maldives 

Seven nights at Hard Rock Maldives with Virgin Atlantic Holidays for just £2,359 per person, including scheduled Virgin Atlantic flights from London Heathrow direct to the Maldives, Bed and Breakfast accommodation. Price is per person based on two adults travelling and sharing a Silver Sky Studio double room and includes all applicable taxes and fuel surcharges which are subject to change. Price is based on a departure on 1st November 2023.

Virgin Atlantic Holidays packages to the Maldives will go on sale from 18th November 2022 and Turks & Caicos packages will go on sale later in the year. 

Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic, commented, “We couldn’t be more thrilled to add these two exotic new routes to our flying portfolio. Nothing sets our hearts soaring like a new destination to explore, so, with two about [to] join our network, there’s only really one question. Where to first? 

“The Maldives has always been an incredibly popular destination for Virgin Atlantic Holidays customers, which is why we couldn’t wait to give them the opportunity to travel to the idyllic location in style onboard Virgin Atlantic aircraft. 

“We’re delighted to begin flying to the Turks & Caicos islands, as we continue to grow our Caribbean portfolio, offering more choice for our customers to explore these beautiful islands and enjoy some winter sun.  

“We know our customers will be over the moon with the introduction of these new destinations, both offering something unique for travellers looking to either simply relax or explore a new corner of the world.”  

Virgin Atlantic Deals

Virgin Atlantic Deals

Happy birthday Ukraine International Airlines

Happy Birthday UIA

Today, Ukraine International Airlines - UIA celebrates its 30th anniversary.  On November 25, 1992, the company operated its first flight from the home base of Kyiv to  London and thus today the company considers this date as the birthday of UIA. 

Over 30 years, the company has carried more than 60 million passengers over almost 600,000 flights and whilst it is not able to do that at the moment, the airline looks forward to the day it can return to the skies above Ukraine.

In a social media post, the carrier said "We are sincerely grateful to the passengers who have chosen UIA for their travels over all these years. We wish to welcome everyone aboard UIA planes again as soon as possible in peaceful Ukraine. We congratulate the large family of UIA employees and partners. We are confident that our company will soon return to full-fledged work and cooperation. 

Unfortunately, the celebration of this important day for UIA is rather muted as the entire aviation of industry of Ukraine is overshadowed by the military invasion by Russia of Ukraine and the ongoing war.  

UIA says "We believe that the civil aviation of Ukraine will be revived after the victory and will continue its development as an essential driving force of the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine."

The airline continues to function on a much-reduced scale during these dark days for the nation as it offers various charter and humanitarian flights as well as "wet leasing" of aircraft to other carriers. 

Ukraine International Airlines – UIA (Ukraine) 

Air101 says congratulations on this anniversary to every one of the UIA family and we wish you well for the future and hope that you'll soon be back in the air again, operating flights from a free and peaceful Ukraine.  

Air101: Ukraine Airlines continues to operate despite the war.

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