Dave

Air France to introduce new La Première cabin

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Air France has announced it is working on the design of a completely new La Première cabin.

The airline states this ‘confirms the airline’s commitment to continue to offer its most exclusive and elegant service, regularly rewarded for its quality and excellence’.

Now in the design phase, the new concept will be unveiled during the 2023/2024 winter season.

The future cabin will be the longest on the market and will offer up to three modular configurations that can be fully privatized for an even more exceptional journey: a seat, a sofa and a fully flat bed.

The new cabin will equip a larger number of aircraft than at present.

Benjamin Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM said

La Première represents the highest level of French excellence and is an intrinsic part of Air France’s DNA. Even at the height of the Covid crisis, we could see the attractiveness of such an offer for our customers, particularly on the North Atlantic route, where load factors in the La Première cabin are currently higher than they were back in 2019. We look forward to unveiling this new cabin, which is set to meet the highest global standards.

The large-scale project is part of Air France’s strategy to ‘move upmarket’, which also covers fleet renewal, lounge renovation and the development of a more sustainable catering offer, signed by Michelin-starred chefs in the airline’s Business and La Première cabins. 

Introduced in 2014, Air France’s La Première suites are currently available on board select Boeing 777-300s serving top destinations in North America, South America, Africa and the Middle East.

The introduction of the new La Première cabin comes just days after Air France announced its new long-haul Business seat. The airline’s completely redesigned iconic seat features even more enveloping curves and extra comfort.

New Business seat: Rolled out on 12 Boeing 777-300s from September 2022, each aircraft will be equipped with 48 seats in Business class

This seat’s design is based on ‘the three Fs’

  • Full Flat, meaning that the seat transforms into a real bed almost two metres long,
  • Full Access, providing all passengers direct access to the aisle,
  • Full Privacy, ensuring optimal privacy.

A new sliding door allows passengers to create a totally private space, out of sight from the other passengers in the cabin. To create a greater sense of privacy for passengers travelling together, the seats located in the centre of the cabin are now equipped with a central panel that can be lowered by pressing it down, creating a convivial space in which to make the most of the flight together.

The seat also features a wide 17.3-inch 4K High-Definition anti-glare screen with a noise-reducing headset, a new Bluetooth connection allowing passengers to use their own headphones and several electric sockets.

As passengers board the aircraft, they are greeted by a backlit winged seahorse, ’embodying the company’s founding myth and rich history’.

The seat’s padding adds softness and a feeling of cosiness. Wool, brushed aluminium, full-grain French leather are the ‘noble, soft and natural materials’ chosen by Air France for the manufacture of its seats. Each seat is also embroidered with the company’s trademark red accent.


Dave

Virgin Atlantic celebrates the Platinum Jubilee with treats at 38,000 feet

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Virgin Atlantic is marking the momentous occasion that is The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee next weekend.

Customers flying to the US and Caribbean over the bank holiday weekend will be treated to extra special delicacies to celebrate Her Majesty’s historic 70-year reign.

Those travelling in Virgin Atlantic’s Economy class will be greeted with a milk chocolate crown lolly wrapped and tied with a festive red ribbon.

Virgin Atlantic is celebrating Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

Premium and Upper Class customers will be offered a delicious Platinum Jubilee Mile High Tea, including a duo of finger sandwiches and a selection of mini patisseries.

The delectable cakes will be a Victoria sponge financier, a chocolate and tonka macaron, and a delicious vanilla and strawberry Battenberg with Virgin Atlantic purple-coloured marzipan.

A quintessentially English cocktail will accompany the bespoke Mile High Tea, using Hambledon English Sparkling Wine and Fever-Tree sweet British Rhubarb and Raspberry tonic.

The personalised beverage will also be available in the Virgin Atlantic London Heathrow Clubhouse, which will be wonderfully decorated to commemorate the occasion. 

Pratt Standard’s Earl Grey Vanilla Syrup, available only seasonally, is inspired by the London Fog

The celebrations are also stretching to the United States, with Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses across America also honouring the Platinum Jubilee.

Customers stopping by in San Francisco, JFK and Washington DC Clubhouses will have the chance to try out a special ‘Earl Grey Jubi-Tea’ cocktail, created with the Pratt Standard Cocktail Company’s Earl Grey Vanilla Syrup.

Pratt Standard are a woman-owned business based in Washington DC that prides itself on responsibly sourced ingredients and quality, perfectly aligning with the Virgin Atlantic five-star experience. 

Corneel Koster, Chief Customer & Operating Officer, Virgin Atlantic said:

We’re delighted to take part in the celebrations for the momentous occasion that is The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee next weekend. The Jubilee weekend marks a significant moment in history and we look forward to celebrating this memorable moment with our customers.

At Virgin Atlantic, creating personalised experiences and magical moments for our customers is what we do best, from the moment they arrive at the airport to when they land at their destination. From enhancing our already delicious inflight

Dave

Virgin Atlantic returns to daily Heathrow-Cape Town flights

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Virgin Atlantic has announced its return to Cape Town.

A new daily service starts on 5 November 2022 and the service will operate on a Boeing 787-9 with Virgin stating fares start from £711 return in Economy.

The aircraft boasts three classes, Upper Class, Premium and Economy offering different experiences for customers as well as the airline’s world-famous social space.

The new winter service runs until 24t March 2022 and will complement the existing year-round daily service to Johannesburg. 

The airline stated that ‘with demand for travel increasing’ passengers can ‘take full advantage of the beautiful destination with easier access than ever before’.

Business travellers often extend their trips to take in Robin Island, where customers can visit the prison where Nelson Mandela was held; and some wish to challenge their adventurous side by riding the cable cars to Table Mountain’s flat top for sweeping views of the city.

Cape Town is the gateway to the Cape Winelands, the country’s top region for wine tasting tours. 

Juha Jarvinen, Chief Commercial Officer at Virgin Atlantic commented:  

We’re incredibly excited to return to the fabulous city of Cape Town with daily services from November. 

Although a little later than we we’d have liked due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the move reflects the fact that travel is recovering and global demand for holidays to sunny, premium destinations is returning at pace.

We’re expecting a high proportion of leisure travellers on this route who will rightly be taking advantage of the winter sun, exploring the world-renowned wine regions and soaking up the rich culture this incredible country has to offer.

Route facts

Virgin Atlantic was founded by entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson in 1984, with innovation and amazing customer service at its core. In 2021, Virgin Atlantic was voted Britain’s only Global Five Star Airline by APEX for the fifth year running in the Official Airline Ratings. 
Dave

Protected: A month’s train travel in Germany for just €9

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Dave

Changi re-opens T2

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Changi Airport Group has announced that operations in Terminal 2 will resume on 29 May 2022, the first phase of the terminal’s reopening as the airport prepares to meet the expected increase in passenger traffic in the months ahead.

Closed for upgrading works since May 2020, T2’s phased reopening will expand Changi’s capacity. When completed by 2024, the expansion works will raise the terminal’s capacity by five million to 28 million passenger movements per year.

In this first phase of T2’s progressive reopening, key touchpoints such as arrival immigration, baggage claim belts and contact gates at the southern wing of the terminal will be ready for flight operations.

T2 will host mainly peak-hour arrival flights of airlines operating in Terminal 3.

A small number of T3 departure flights may use boarding gates at T2 although passengers on these flights will continue to check in and clear departure immigration at T3.

The expanded T2 will see a larger Arrival Immigration Hall with more automated immigration lanes and special assistance lanes.

The automated immigration lanes will serve Singaporeans and residents who have enrolled their iris and facial biometrics with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, as well as eligible foreign visitors who have done the same upon their arrival in Singapore.

The airport claims that, ‘as more passengers are enrolled, the number of automated immigration lanes will be increased. As for the special assistance lanes, these feature a wider width than conventional lanes, allowing passengers with mobility aids, as well as big family groups, to clear immigration more easily’.

In the Baggage Claim Hall, there will be three collection belts, with one that has been lengthened to handle more bags.

Mr Tan Lye Teck, CAG’s Executive Vice President of Airport Management, said

CAG is encouraged to see the strong pickup in travel demand and has worked closely with our partners to bring forward the progressive reopening of T2 ahead of the June travel peak to meet this demand.

The start of flight operations at T2 will provide more capacity to support our airline partners, who are also gearing up to serve more passengers in the months ahead. T2 will reopen in phases over the next two years to support Changi’s recovery as a regional air hub.

Dave

Air France-KLM and IndiGo codeshare takes off

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Air France-KLM and IndiGo, India’s leading carrier, have implemented the extensive codeshare agreement announced in December 2021.

IndiGo: Air France and KLM customers now have access to 30 destinations in India

With this partnership, Air France and KLM will ultimately offer their customers access to 30 new Indian destinations and a large number of round-trip combinations for both business and leisure purposes.

Customers will be able to fly to the destination of their choice with one single booking. Flying Blue members will also be able to earn miles on all routes covered by this agreement.

On departure from their respective hubs in Paris and Amsterdam, Air France and KLM already serve four destinations in India: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru.

On departure from the multiple points in India, Air France and KLM will open up their global network of over 300 destinations to IndiGo customers, with more than 120 destinations in Europe and about 50 in the Americas.

Henri de Peyrelongue, EVP Commercial Sales Air France-KLM said:

We are very proud at Air France-KLM to be the first major European airline group to initiate cooperation with IndiGo. This codeshare agreement will allow us to increase our local footprint and to improve connectivity between India – one of the fastest growing markets – and the rest of the world, via our Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol hubs. For our customers this means an enhanced network with as many as 30 new destinations in India, as well as increased roundtrip possibilities for both business and leisure travel.

Sanjay Kumar, Chief Strategy & Revenue Officer, IndiGo said,

We are pleased to commence the partnership with one of the strongest European airline groups, Air France-KLM. This codeshare is in line with our mission to provide air connectivity and affordable fares across India and to international destinations. As this summer sees a huge interest in international travel after a hiatus of two years, the codeshare will extend our on-time, affordable, courteous and hassle-free travel experience across 30 incredible Indian destinations to Air France-KLM customers.

Codeshare flights are now available to book through Global Travel Management.

Dave

Wizz Air to form new airline, based in Malta

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Wizz Air, ‘Europe’s fastest growing ultra-low-cost airline’ has announced it intends to file an application for its Maltese subsidiary to be granted an Air Operator’s Certificate.

Subject to confirmation of its AOC Wizz Air Malta may begin operations in October 2022 with Malta-registered aircraft.

Wizz Air Chief Executive Officer, József Váradi said:

József VáradiL constantly evaluating

We are pleased to announce our intention to establish a new airline subsidiary in Malta.

Wizz Air is constantly evaluating the structure of its business and exploring options to establish new AOCs and bases in Europe and beyond.

The successful establishment of Wizz Air Malta later this year will help to reinforce our strong position and support our expansion plans in Europe.

We look forward to working with EASA and the Maltese CAA to take this application forward.

Patrick Ky, Executive Director of EASA, said: “

Patrick Ky: looking forward

This will be a new step in the already well-established cooperation between the Agency, the Maltese Civil Aviation Directorate and Wizz Air.

This new set-up, where one group will operate multiple AOCs based in different Member States, but overseen by the same Competent Authority, demonstrates the possibilities available through the transfer of responsibilities to EASA.

We are looking forward to working together on the issuance of this brand-new AOC and the subsequent oversight activities.

Capt Charles Pace, Director General of the Civil Aviation Directorate Malta, stated:

Capt Charles Pace: an honour

It is an honour to have Wizz Air as one of the Airlines selecting Malta as one of their Principal Places of Business.

The team effort and approach of CAD has once again been proven to be a winning formula.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the CEO and Board of Wizz Air for their trust, and I look forward to working with EASA and Wizz Air in issuing the AOC and AOL.

Dave

Munich-Zurich Airport to be the first international ‘SWISS Air Rail’ route

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SWISS is expanding its collaboration with SBB Swiss Federal Railways on its intermodal transport service, which will in future be known as ‘SWISS Air Rail’.

From July 2022 onwards, SWISS customers can take advantage of the first-ever international rail/air connection in the form of a new train service between Munich Hauptbahnhof and Zurich Airport.

SWISS Air Rail services in Switzerland are also set to be further expanded in collaboration with SBB.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is intensifying its collaboration with SBB Swiss Federal Railways to expand its intermodal rail/air travel product under the new name of ‘SWISS Air Rail’. The new Munich-Zurich Airport route joins the existing rail/air services between Zurich Airport and the SBB stations of Basel SBB, Lugano and Geneva which have been gradually established over the past few years under the ‘Airtrain’ name. The new Munich service is the first such rail/air connection between Zurich Airport and a point in a neighbouring country.

From 1 July 2022, travellers holding a SWISS flight ticket can take advantage of rail services between Munich Hauptbahnhof and Zurich Airport which can be seamlessly combined with their flight.

SWISS Chief Commercial Officer Tamur Goudarzi Pour said,

Tamur Goudarzi Pour

Together with SBB, we’re taking a big further step forward in offering our customers complementary travel options.

We are jointly seeking to provide smarter combinations of rail and air transport wherever these make sense.

And we’re marking a particular milestone here in offering – with Munich – our first-ever international SWISS Air Rail connection.

Véronique Stephan, SBB’s Head of Passenger Services Markets said,

I am delighted that it will now be easier to combine rail and air travel on the Munich-Zurich Airport route.

This new service will enable SWISS customers living a short or a medium distance away from SWISS’s Zurich hub to make greater use of rail connections to get to and from the airport.

And with these quick and direct new rail services, they’ll enjoy the best possible connections with their SWISS flights.

Véronique Stephan

The timetable for the new SWISS Air Rail service between Munich Hauptbahnhof and Zurich Airport offers SWISS travellers a choice of six SBB trains a day in each direction. Trains may also be boarded or left in Bregenz en route. The rail ticket is included in the SWISS air fare, and can be booked now together with the flight ticket by customers of Global Travel Management.

As on all its other SWISS Air Rail routes, SWISS offers users of the service guaranteed connections in the event of a delay.

SWISS customers using SWISS Air Rail who are Miles & More members will earn status and award miles on their SWISS Air Rail ticket, too, with the number of miles earned depending on their connecting flight and class of travel. SWISS First and SWISS Business travellers using SWISS Air Rail will also travel in first class on the train; and both they and HON Circle and Senator status customers can make use of the Munich Hauptbahnhof DB Lounge.

All travellers using SWISS Air Rail from or to Munich will also enjoy automatic seat reservation and free WiFi access. F

The range of SWISS Air Rail options in Switzerland is also to be further expanded together with SBB. The plans include selected new intermediate stops on existing SWISS Air Rail routes from summer 2022 to enable even more SWISS travellers to take advantage of these seamless rail connections to and from SWISS’s Zurich Airport hub.

The Geneva-Zurich Airport service will also allow travellers holding a SWISS flight ticket to join or leave the train in Lausanne, Fribourg or Bern; and the Lugano-Zurich Airport service will offer a similar boarding/leaving option in Bellinzona. SWISS and SBB further plan to introduce improved baggage collection and delivery services for SWISS Air Rail users.

SWISS and SBB aim to work steadily to enhance the rail-and-air-travel combination and further expand their joint product and service portfolio.

Dave

Air New Zealand highlights Māori culture and values in new safety video

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As New Zealand reopens to the world, Araraurangi Air New Zealand has launched a new safety video – this time it’s the story of the Tiaki Promise. A promise that encourages both New Zealanders and international visitors to care for our place, our culture and our people.

The story follows Tiaki, a young man who boards a waka rererangi (flying canoe) and sets off on an adventure across Aotearoa.

Tiaki and the Guardians rolled out across Air New Zealand’s international and domestic fleet from Monday, 9 May 2022.

With the help of Air New Zealand and Julie (a character that embodies the rest of New Zealand), he visits four Māori guardians including Papatūānuku (the land), Tangaroa (sea), Tāne Mahuta (forest) and Ranginui (sky). Along the way he seeks advice from these guardians on how better to look after them.

Air New Zealand General Manager Brand and Marketing Jeremy O’Brien says as people start to return to Aotearoa, this safety video is an invitation to them to act like guardians while they’re here:

We want tourism to build back better than it was before and part of that is to share with our visitors a sense of kaitiaki – to encourage them to act like guardians of our country. Our Safety Videos are world renowned and through them, we have an opportunity to educate and inspire ourselves, our customers and Aotearoa on the importance of Tiaki and everything it stands for. It’s about being good hosts, and good visitors.

Julie’s character in the safety video is there to show that caring for New Zealand isn’t something Tiaki can do alone. It requires all of us to follow the Promise and commit to protecting Aotearoa for future generations to come.

I’d like to thank Pou Tikanga and storyteller, Joe Harawira, New Zealand Māori Tourism and the New Zealand Māori Arts & Crafts Institute for guiding us, right from concept to the building of the waka, and the cultural formalities we followed throughout. The collaborative effort has helped us share this story and the principles of Tiaki authentically.

The airline worked closely with the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute to design the waka and its carvings. From there it was taken to the various filming locations and flown on wires to create real shadows and textures for post-production.

Cutting-edge LED stage screens, used in The Mandalorian TV series, helped to bring the legends of Māori culture to life, and it was this motion technology that created a seamless shift from the real world to the fantastical.

In 2018, Air New Zealand, along with six other organisations, created the Tiaki Promise – a way to educate New Zealand visitors about protecting and enhancing our country – and this safety video builds on the work already at play with the Promise.

The Tiaki Promise sees travellers:

  • Care for land, sea and nature. Treading lightly and leaving no trace.
  • Travel safely, showing care and consideration for all.
  • Respect culture, travelling with an open heart and mind.
A behind-the-scenes view of the Air New Zealand safety video


Dave

Changi Airport holds first in-person airline awards ceremony after two-year hiatus

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More than 120 representatives from 71 airlines spanning 36 countries converged in Singapore for the annual Changi Airlines Awards after a two-year hiatus.

The event, which celebrates the year’s achievements and recognises airline partners’ contributions to the Changi air hub, was last held in 2019 but suspended in the following years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Presentation: Minister S Iswaran presenting an award to Dharminder Hunjan from Gulf Air

A total of 34 awards across three categories were given during the three-hour evening event held at Dusit Thani Laguna Singapore.

The Resilience Award was presented to 25 airlines who have continued to fly to and operate from Changi Airport throughout the pandemic.

The Connectivity Award was presented to two airlines for launching new city links.

Seven airlines were also conferred the New Airline Award from Guest-of-Honour Minister for Transport and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations S Iswaran.

Passenger traffic at Changi Airport spiked from under 15% of pre-Covid levels in February this year to close to 40%.

82 airlines operate over 3,300 weekly scheduled flights at Changi Airport, connecting Singapore to some 125 cities in 47 countries and territories worldwide.