Travel Briefs
Michelin Releases 2007 Selection for New York City
Michelin revealed today the contents of the 2007 edition of its restaurant and hotel guide for New York City, the Michelin Guide New York City 2007, which arrives in stores Wednesday, Oct. 25. Published in 13 editions covering 20 European countries, the Michelin Guide's rating system is internationally recognized as the height of culinary success. "In 2005, the Michelin Guide came to New York as the first in North America," said Jean-Luc Naret, director of the Michelin Guides. "It has been a resounding success. This city has such a dynamic, passionate, rich culinary community and we are just honored to participate in the city's unique dining personality."
Overall, 526 restaurants and 50 hotels in every category of cuisine and comfort and at prices to suit all budgets were selected for inclusion in the guide, which is considered a distinction in itself. Three restaurants, Jean Georges, Le Bernardin, and Per Se, received a three-star rating for providing "an exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey." Four restaurants received a two-star rating providing "excellent cooking, worth a detour," including Chelsea newcomer Del Posto; 32 restaurants received a one-star rating for being "a very good restaurant in its category," and 487 additional restaurants were selected for the guide as they provide a quality experience. Restaurants and hotels from all five boroughs were considered for the guide.
In addition to the stars that "are in the plate and only in the plate," establishments in the Michelin Guide New York City 2007 are rated according to comfort based on criteria such as amenities, type of services, general upkeep of the establishment, cleanliness, comfort, atmosphere, price and value for money. The comfort rating is expressed in two ways: For restaurants: one to five forks and spoons. For hotels: one to five pavilions
There are also special distinctions for certain establishments. In addition to stars for the best restaurants, Michelin awards red forks and spoons (restaurants) or pavilions (hotels) for especially pleasant establishments.
For more information about the Michelin Guide, please visit www.michelinguide.com .
Four Self-Drive Wine Routes Available For Portugal’s Ribatejo Region
Portugal's Ribatejo region near Lisbon has developed four self-drive wine routes. The Ribatejo Wine Route is an itinerary with cultural and gastronomic character with other cultural activities, whose main point is the wine.
The Gothic Treasure route will focus on Santarem, the Gothic royal summer capital, with its historical buildings; the Bulls and Horses route combines bull fighting with vineyard touring; By the Tagus follows the river where the Romans grew grapes; and Manueline Treasures takes in Templar castles as well as vineyards. For additional information, go to the bilingual website www.rotavinhoribatejo.pt.
Three new members join the European Travel Commission
At its general meeting held on the Mediterranean island of Malta the European Travel Commission (ETC) welcomed three new nations to its ranks—Serbia, Montenegro and San Marino—thus bringing its membership to thirty-seven.
ETC joins together the continent’s national tourism organizsations (NTOs) to market “Destination Europe” globally.
Membership brings advantages both to the new members and ETC: the three countries are potent tourism brands that enrich ETC’s portfolio of destinations. The three countries will benefit from a boost in visibility through a presence in the company of Europe’s major destinations on the ETC’s new internet portal, visiteurope.com. In addition, ETC`s activities in the fields of IT, market intelligence and operational excellence - key issues for the success of Europe’s tourism industry in a competitive global environment - represent a valuable resource for NTOs in terms of enhancing their effectiveness.
Participating as observers for the first time at the meeting were representatives of the tourism authorities of Georgia, Russia and the Republic of Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina).
Spectacular Whale Watching in Baja California Sur
Each year in early autumn, one of nature's most delightful signs of seasonal change occurs -- the migration of hundreds of whales from the waters of the arctic to the warm, calm waters surrounding the Baja Peninsula. From January - March, there is no better place to view such a spectacular event than Baja California Sur. These magnificent creatures complete the 12,000-mile journey by late January and stay until late March, when they repeat their journey. The whales make their way south at an average speed of four miles per hour. They travel continuously during the day and on moonlit nights, while resting for a few hours on moonless evenings.
Ideal climate, shallow waters, salinity and abundant marine life make the bays and lagoons of Baja California Sur the perfect place for whales to birth and rear their young. The female whales, impregnated the year before, arrive first. The males and younger whales come soon thereafter. The primary breeding areas are Magdalena Bay, San Ignacio, Vizcaino Preserve, and Laguna Ojo de Liebre. These tranquil, warm waters entice the females to give birth and nurse their young calves in the coastal reserves as well as teach them to swim and prepare for the long journey back to the waters in the north.
The six-month, round trip sojourn is the longest trip made by any animal in the world. Migrating whales travel half the year and rest the other half. Scientific studies have shown that 90 percent of the migrating whales travel south to the waters of Baja California Sur, while the remaining 10 percent make their way to the waters off Korea.
Of the 11 species of whales found worldwide, eight venture to the waters of the Baja lagoons, including Minke, Bryde, Fin, Sei, Humpback, Beluga, Gray and Blue.
Hotels and marinas throughout Baja California Sur can arrange whale-watching excursions that offer an up close and personal introduction to these gentle giants. Small fishing boats called pangas take whale watchers out among the whales where these sweet-tempered leviathans often approach the boats and welcome a friendly rub from humans.
Flights arrive daily from the United States to Baja California Sur's three international airport in San Jose del Cabo (SJD), La Paz (LAP) and Loreto (LTO). For more information about La Paz, Baja California Sur call (877) MY-BAJA SUR or visit www.mybajasur.com.
New Passport Regulations For Air Travel
As of January 8, 2007 citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico and the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda will be required to show a valid passport or other designated secured identification for all air travel within the Western Hemisphere at all airports.
Newfoundland Stays Open Later…For Less
Aiming to keep the welcome mat out longer and encourage more visitors, Newfoundland, one of the four provinces of Atlantic Canada, along with 38 of its travel industry partners in the Discovery Trail Association – small inns, B&Bs, whale watching tours and the province’s highly acclaimed Rising Tide Theatre – is extending its season, staying open later and offering value-added packages to attract U.S. travelers.
Stunning natural scenery, nature up close and personal, centuries-old fishing villages, fabulously fresh seafood and Newfoundlanders who take the time to chat have been luring visitors for years. Award-winning nature cruises, kayaking adventures and scenic hikes attract the active traveler. Majestic icebergs, pods of whales and puffin colonies lure nature lovers. There’s something to interest every visitor from a weekend workshop with famed artist Gerry Squires to peeking at the puffin colony in Elliston or lazing away an afternoon picking partridge berries – all at prices 30 to 50 percent lower than in the summer season.
One of the most picturesque spots along the Discovery Trail is the charming national heritage community of Trinity. Here, narrow lanes lead to restored 19th century merchant houses – there are some 50 architecturally significant buildings in this small town of 350. Whale watching is a popular activity from the port and twenty-two species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises swim along the coastline. Rising Tide Theatre – located on Green’s Point where there has been an enterprise since 1700 – is presenting a full program of plays. Bonavista was discovered in 1497 by John Cabot, or as his Genovese neighbors called him, Giovanni Caboto. Four years later on a Sunday, the explorer sailed into Trinity.
Beginning at Chapel Arm, just 62 miles outside of St. John’s, the Discovery Trail stretches almost 75 miles to Port Blandford along the Trans Canada Highway and from there extends another 68 miles to the tip of the Bonavista Peninsula. Retracing four centuries of settlement, the Discovery Trail has a vast network of foot and cart paths that lead to lighthouses, fishing ponds and favorite berry picking spots. Eight designated hikes take active travelers from the abandoned community of British Harbour and the lighthouse of Kings Cove trail to the site of a natural fort used during Queen Ann's War of 1703-13. Designed for serious hikers as well, the well-marked trails range up to ten miles long and maps are available for purchase. “The Discovery Trail has a rich history and we’re working hard to preserve it,” explained, Tom Hedderson, provincial Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation. “Visitors can see the only union built town in Canada dating from 1917 at Port Union, which was just restored last year,” Hedderson added.
A number of very reasonably-priced packages – as much as 50% lower than in the summer – are being offered by Discovery Trail Association members through the end of October including:
Newfoundland Vacation Homes has a three-night package at Eagle Peak in Trinity East that is 30% off and includes two guided nature hikes (a $77 value) priced at $108 per person, based on four person occupancy. www.newfoundlandvacationhomes.com
Trinity Experience offers a two-night package for two with tickets to the Rising Tide Theatre at The Eriksen Premises, one of their B&Bs in Trinity that was a general store in the 1800s, starting at $177, a 30% discount. www.trinityexperience.com
Boasting the closest viewing of puffins in North America, the Bird Island Inn is offering a two-night “Friends Weekend Getaway,” for six friends in three rooms that includes two free bottles of blueberry wine and root cellar vegetable appetizers upon arrival and Saturday evening dinner with live entertainment for $71 per person, double occupancy www.birdislandinn.com
Overlooking the ocean, Terra Nova Golf Resort and its 18-hole Twin Rivers course – rated one of “Canada’s top 100 courses” – is offering a one-night stay on a Sunday or Monday with two rounds of golf per person and complimentary continental breakfast for only $66 per person, double occupancy – a 50% discount off the regular rate. www.terranovagolf.com
For further information about the province, go to www.newfoundlandandlabradortourism.com; and for further information about the Discovery Trail and its packages go to www.fallfordiscovery.com.
Germany Presents A New Car And Motorcycle Brochure: Drive Deutschland
Germany’s new car brochure highlights the diversity and richness of the country’s car and motorcycle culture, production facilities, museums, car and motorbike scenic driving routes. History, passion and technology are the defining characteristics of Germany’s car industry and its global brands. Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Opel, Porsche and Volkswagen are world famous for their innovation and quality.
In the new brochure, Drive Deutschland car enthusiasts can read about the more than 25 car museums complete with children’s campuses; scenic driving routes; famous Formula 1 race tracks and company theme parks. In 16 colorful and informative pages, the brochure covers car attractions in the north, south, east and west of Germany including museums, state of the art production facilities, their opening hours and websites. There is also a map detailing exactly where all of the various car sites are located in Germany.
Taking a quick spin through Germany, one can start in the North in Wolfsburg with VW’s futuristic production center. Children from three to 93 can take driving tests, experience car testing and view the company’s fantastic storage silos. Website: www.autostadt.de
In Dresden, in the eastern state of Saxony, men in white coats and gloves put together VW’s Phaeton, among other models, in the company’s completely transparent (glass) factory. Website: www.glaesernemanufaktur.de. In Dresden’s city center, visitors can tour the city in Trabants (Trabis) from the former East Germany. Website: www.trabi-safari.de. For those who like faster cars, Porsche builds its Cayenne models in Leipzig ( www.porsche-leipzig.com ) and right nearby is Zaha Hadid's new Central Building for BMW ( www.bmw-werk-leipzig.de ).
Heading west, one hour outside of Frankfurt, the Automobile and Technology Museum in Sinsheim has more than 3,000 exhibits, including vintage cars, racing cars, motorbikes, and even airplanes on display ( www.museum-sinsheim.de ).
In Stuttgart the recently opened futuristic Mercedes Benz Museum has, for the first time, enough room to show the company’s complete automobile collection. Combine the visit to the new museum with a behind the scenes tour of the Mercedes Benz Plant in Sindelfingen and a visit of the small museums on Gottlieb Daimler and Carl Benz, the inventors of the world’s first petrol-engine vehicles ( www.mercedes-benz.com ).
The new Porsche Museum currently being built in Stuttgart is set to bring the history of Porsche to life. The old museum will remain open until the new museum is ready in 2008 ( www.porsche.com ).
Driving further south and east to Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm in Bavaria, Audi combines both past and future in its two Audi Forums ( www.audi.com ). And, one hour south in Munich, BMW looks forward to welcoming visitors to its new center, BMW World, in the spring of 2007 (www.bmw-welt.com ). Visitors also will enjoy the extensive car and motor exhibitions at the German Museum in Munich.
Visitors not only enjoy the thrill of the Autobahn but also can experience the challenge of a Formula 1 Race Track. The Nuerburg Ring (www.nuerburgring.de ) and the Hockenheim Ring (www.hockenheimring.de) stage a wide variety of exiting events from Formula 1 and the German Touring Car Championship to the Motorcycle Grand Prix. Courageous car fans can actually take test drives with race car drivers and get behind the wheel themselves.
To order your new brochure or to plan an auto trip to Germany go to www.ComeToGermany.com.
Discover The Azores—A Year-Round Vacation Destination
Try a different holiday this year and venture over to the Azores in the southern Atlantic.
The archipelago of the Azores was discovered during the first half of the 15th-century by Portuguese navigators. Consisting of nine islands, it is divided into three groups: the eastern (São Miguel and Santa Maria), the central (Terceira, Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico and Faial), and the western (Corvo and Flores). The sapphire blue and emerald green lakes, fertile prairies, volcanic cones and craters, colorful hydrangeas and azaleas, 15th century churches and majestic manor houses make the Azores unlike anywhere else on earth. The islands have year-round mild climate (between 57°F and 71°F).
For more information on the Azores and direct air flights from the US, visit
http://www.azores-express.com. Azores Express (part of the SATA Group) connects New England with the beautiful islands of the Azores. Year-round flights are available from Boston, with connecting service to Lisbon, Porto and Madeira. In season, Azores Express offers direct flights to Lisbon from Boston, and seasonal service to the Azores from Providence, Rhode Island, and Oakland, California.
Annual Truffles Festival Takes Place In Istria Region Of Croatia
Truffles, one of the most expensive mushrooms in the world, have its home in Istria region of Croatia. In the forest area near old town of Motovun, as well as in other surrounding towns and villages there are white and black truffles in abundance. There are many events in the region that focus on truffles (Tartufi, as they call them in Croatia), and one of the biggest is “Tartufada” (Truffle Days), taking place in the village of Livade, in the valley of river Mirna from October 1 to November 12.
Throughout the festival, there are exhibitions and tastings of various agricultural products, while truffles are prepared in many different dishes in local restaurants. This year also marks the 5th anniversary celebration of the biggest white truffle in the world found in Istria and holding its place in the Guinness Book of Records. Truffle season generally starts in September and lasts through the end of March, so fall and winter are perfect time for exploring Istria, its truffles and the rest of its hidden treasures that include cultural, historic and many other rarely visited places in this still greatly undiscovered part of Croatia. Website: www.livadetartufi.com
Spain’s Greenways Provide 930 Miles Of Trails For Hikers And Bikers
Ecology-conscious travelers, who prefer walking or biking to riding around in a car or bus, will be glad to know about Spain’s 930 miles of vías verdes, or greenways, unused railway lines that the Spanish government has converted to more than 70 walking and biking trails. Marked by yellow signs to show a green leaf, the words “vías verdes,” and the number of kilometers, they wind over green hills, through scenic valleys, along meandering canals and under ancient stone bridges all over Spain. They are easy, accessible and far removed from automobile traffic, though often close to picturesque farms, villages and the everyday life of the Spanish people – a great way to discover the hidden corners of Spain.
The Vías Verdes (Greenways) Program was launched in 1993, when the Spanish Railway Foundation (FFE) was commissioned to research abandoned railway lines. The FFE discovered some 4,700 miles of unused railway lines, which resulted in the government budgeting some $7 million per year for Greenways construction. By 2005, Spain had invested more than $70 million for construction of these hiking and biking trails.
In 1998 the European Greenways Association was established to promote and encourage Greenways throughout Europe. In 2000 FFE received the United National Best Practices Habitat International Award, encouraging it to organize the first international conference on Vías Verdes in Latin America two years later.
The FFE’s website gives useful information – in English – about the Greenways. There are two volumes of Guias de Vías Verdes (Greenways Guides) with over 1000 miles of itineraries that include maps, pictures and information about accommodations, local fiestas, and railway connections. These are available – only in Spanish – in some Spanish bookstores and on the web site under “publicaciones.” The books cost 17 euros each ($20.50) plus postage. An Official Road Map (with CD-ROM) published in Spain by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport is also available in bookstores giving itineraries for 75 greenways. For more information go to http://www.ffe.es/viasverdes/programme.htm. For further information about Spain, visit www.spain.info.
January Snow Safari In Switzerland - One Week Only
Picasso Travel is offering a special land tour package January 13 to January 20, 2007— 8 days/7 nights from $799 per person do; $1025 single occupancy.
Enjoy a week in beautiful Interlaken surrounded by a breathtaking mountain panorama. Ski all week or wrap yourself in a warm blanket and simply enjoy sitting in a deckchair admiring the winter wonderland.
Tour includes seven overnight stays in the three-star Chalet Oberland Hotel in Interlaken, including breakfast. Welcome drink ; six Dinners at the hotel; one traditional Swiss Evening including dinner; all transfers from the hotel to the ski resorts; airport assistance upon arrival January 13; and service and all taxes (VAT, visitors tax)
For more information and to book your trip click http://www.picassotours.com/template_itinerary.asp?TourId=95 or call 1-800-995-7997 or 310-645-7527
Visit Barnard, Vermont’s Home for the Holidays Festival December 16, 2006
A tiny town in almost-rural Vermont will turn a periscope on village life in Barnard (near Woodstock, VT) circa 1840-1870 with a participatory, multi-faceted Home for the Holidays festival offering in-dwelling staged and costumed vignettes, themed music and food from 2:30-7 p.m. Saturday, December 16, 2006.
There is no charge to join the guided walking tours by lantern light to witness splices of past lives and to enjoy themed music. A hearty Farmhouse Supper at Barnard’s Town Hall is priced to appeal to families at just $10 per person or $20 per family (any size).
The Barnard Historical Society is sponsoring the program. Home for the Holidays isn’t a traditional tour of homes; rather it is theatrical events. For one magical December afternoon, Barnard will become a living museum with vignettes enacted in assorted kitchens and parlors, in a blacksmith shop and general store. Tour guides will draw folks walking the village into the costumed and themed re-enactments that range from the temperance movement to gathering boxes for the men fighting in the Civil War.
The Farmhouse Supper from 4-6 p.m. will include an old-fashioned taffy pull. Barnard’s Elementary School children will perform a 30-minute concert of music from this period at the Universalist Church, followed by a tree lighting on Silver Lake across from the Barnard General Store.
For lodging availability in the region, please see www.benchmarkinns.
Liberty Travel Offers Winter Caribbean Sale Starting at $339*
Liberty Travel's Winter Caribbean Sale, booking now through November 15th for travel January 1, 2007 through March 9th, will have you saving a bundle rather than wearing one.
These amazing vacation packages include:
* Radisson Cable Beach, Bahamas, All Inclusive, 3 nights from Miami $519
-- SAVE $870 per couple
* Intercontinental San Juan Resort & Casino, Puerto Rico, 4 nights from
New York $775
-- SAVE $560 per couple
* Marriott Frenchman's Reef, St. Thomas, 5 nights from Chicago $1259
-- SAVE $1,235 per couple
* Westin Aruba Resort, Spa & Casino, 5 nights from New York $1269
-- SAVE $655 per couple
* Excellence Punta Cana, All Inclusive, 5 nights from Boston $1269
-- SAVE $720 per couple
* Sandals Grande Ocho Rios Beach & Villa Resort, All Inclusive, 5 nights
from New York $1315
-- SAVE $1190 per couple
For more information about this offer, call or visit your local Liberty Travel agent today. To locate your local Liberty Travel store, call 1-800-764-1000 or visit us on the web at www.LibertyTravel.com.
Prices are per person, based on double occupancy accommodations, round trip midweek air. Most resorts valid for travel from 01/01/07 - 03/09/07. Effective dates vary by resort. Packages must be booked by 11/15/06. Air must be booked on American Airlines "Q" class contract economy bulk fare, Nassau and Aruba based on "Q" class published fare. *Price based on 3 night stay from New York at Nassau Palm Resort, savings of $115 per couple. Rates are subject to change without notice. Availability, holiday blackouts, peak period surcharges and other restrictions apply
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Travel Alerts & Information
Warnings and advice covering travel and health issues in countries can be found at the Department of State (DOS) homesite at http://travel.state.gov/travel/travel_1744.html .
-- Travel Warnings are issued when the State Department recommends that Americans avoid a certain country. The countries currently listed can be found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html .
-- The State Department issues Public Announcements to disseminate information quickly about terrorist threats and other relatively short-term conditions that pose significant risks or disruptions to Americans. The current Public Announcements are listed at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1766.html .
-- Information on countries can be found in the Consular section of the DOS website at
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html .
Information on Avian Flu can be found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_1181.html .
-- Information on the 2006 hurricane season in the Atlantic, Caribbean, and the Gulf of Mexico can be found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/hurricane_season/hurricane_season_2915.html .
-- With trouble flashpoints erupting around the world, Americans are urged to record their out-of-country trip itineraries/residences along with passport details and email addresses with the State Department to receive assistance in case of emergency. Visit the Travel Registration Service/DOS at https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/home.asp .
For more information on security measures implemented at airports and other travel venues, visit www.tsa.gov.org or specifically http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/index.shtm.
Travel Health Warnings can be obtained from from the US Government Printing Office Health Information for International Travel by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which gives a global rundown of disease and immunization advice and other health guidance, including risks in particular countries. The CDC maintains the international travelers hotline at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747), an automated faxback service at 1-888-CDC-FAXX (1-888-232-3299) and a website at http://www.cdc.gov . CDC’s Traveler’s Letter is at http://www.cdc.gov/travel.
For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad as well as medical inoculations, consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) website at http://www.who.int/en . The WHO also provides travel health information at http://www.who.int/ith .
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Air News & Offers
New Passport Regulations For Air Travel
As of January 8, 2007 citizens of the United States, Canada, Mexico and the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda will be required to show a valid passport or other designated secured identification for all air travel within the Western Hemisphere at all airports.
Qantas Orders Eight More Airbus A380 Jets
Qantas Airways of Australia has placed an order for eight more Airbus A380s, the new superjumbo passenger aircraft that has been dogged by delays. The order, according to Geoff Dixon, CEO of Qantas, has increased the airline’s commitment to the A380 to 20 aircraft to be delivered between August 2008 and 2015. Dixon also pointed out that the aircraft was the most suitable aircraft for Qantas to use on long haul routes from Australia to the United, States, Britain, Europe and possibly the Middle East; and that after extensive review of the recent problems at Airbus the A380 delays, “we are convinced that these problems relate to industrialization issues at Airbus and will be remedied and in no way relate to the technical capacity of the A380.
Dixon also announced that Qantas had decided to buy five more Boeing 737-800 aircraft for delivery starting in 2008. The Qantas Airways Group has a fleet of 219 aircraft.
United Airlines Launches Nonstop Service to Kuwait City from Washington, D.C.
United now offers new daily nonstop passenger and cargo service between Washington, D.C., and Kuwait City, expanding United's global network into the fast-growing Middle East region. United Flight 982 departs Washington Dulles at 9:51 p.m. and is scheduled to arrive at the Kuwait International Airport at 4:50 p.m. United will operate the combined passenger and cargo flight with a Boeing 777 aircraft configured with 10 United First Suite(R) seats, 45 United Business(R) seats and 198 United Economy(R) class seats, including 84 Economy Plus(R) seats. The flight will also provide approximately 106 metric tons of cargo capacity per month between the United States and Kuwait.
Sample fares between Washington, D.C., and Kuwait City on United are each way, based on required roundtrip purchase by Nov. 15, 2006.* See below or visit united.com:
Washington, D.C. - Kuwait $581
Chicago - Kuwait $623
Los Angeles - Kuwait $658
Customers who travel on the Kuwait service between Oct. 28, 2006 and Dec. 15, 2006 can earn up to 10,000 bonus miles through a special promotion available on www.united.com/kuwaitbonus.
United's new service to Kuwait City also strengthens Washington Dulles as United's international gateway to almost a dozen world capitals. Other recently announced capital-to-capital flights from Washington Dulles include United's first-ever Asia-Pacific service from Washington, D.C., and its proposed service between Washington, D.C., and Rome. In addition, the company also has applied for daily service between Beijing and Washington, D.C., which would be the first-ever capital-to-capital nonstop service between these two countries, if approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
China Southern Expands Its Check-In Service
China Southern Airlines, - with the largest and most technically advanced aircraft fleet in The People's Republic of China is pleased to announce that it is expanding its all-new rapid check-in service available to all passengers departing from the new $3 billion Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. China Southern’s “Check-in On Arrival” service - which was previously available only to domestic flight passengers at Baiyun International Airport - is now available to all passengers taking China Southern International flights or regional flights to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.
The new service allows International passengers to enjoy early check-in without the recommended three-hour check-in time or as soon as passengers arrive at the airport. The service is available from 6:00 a.m. until the last flight each evening. Departing China Southern Airlines’ International passengers should go to Counter G2 for this service.
Website: www.cs-air.com/en
China Southern Expands Service To Nagoya, Japan
China Southern Airlines has started new daily service between Shenzhen, China and Nagoya, Japan. Available now, China Southern is offering this new daily route between China and Japan using Airbus A320 aircraft. The flight makes a single stopover at Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport.
Etihad Airways Launches Non-Stop Service To and From New York
Etihad Airways the National Airline of the United Arab Emirates, celebrated the official launch of its daily, non-stop, round-trip service between Abu Dhabi and New York this month. As the carrier's second North American destination, after Toronto, the launch of the route to the USA's key gateway city symbolizes Etihad's long- awaited entrance into the American market.
Guests on the New York route will enjoy the very best Etihad in-flight service in the new purpose-built Airbus 340-500 aircraft, with last month's delivery of its fourth aircraft in the series, meaning that 80 per cent of the fleet is brand new. Configured with two aisles, the aircraft can carry 240 guests in three distinct zones: 12 in Diamond Zone, 28 in Pearl Zone and 200 guests in Coral Zone.
To celebrate the inaugural U.S. flight, Etihad has included additional benefits within its industry ground breaking loyalty initiative, Etihad Guest program ( http://www.etihadairways.com/etihadairways/global/en/home/home ), launched worldwide at the end of August.
Flight EY 503 will depart Abu Dhabi International Airport daily at 2:15pm, arriving in New York at 9:25pm. The return flight, EY 504, departs at 11:10pm arriving the next day in Abu Dhabi at 8:25pm.
Several other new routes including Tehran and Shanghai are scheduled to be launched over the coming months.
Etihad Airways, the National Airline of the United Arab Emirates currently offers flights for to 45 destinations in the Middle East, Europe, North America, Africa and Asia.
EL AL Israel Airlines Reduces Fuel Surcharge for All Departing US Flights
EL AL, Israel's national airline, is offering excellent value to passengers traveling to Israel this post holiday season for tickets purchased between November 6 and November 23, 2006. Due to a decrease in oil prices, EL AL is lowering its wintertime fares from more than 25 cities in the U.S.A. for travel January 1 - March 25, 2007.
Reduced roundtrip airfares from the US to Israel are $735 nonstop from New York (JFK/Newark); $765 on the only direct flights from Chicago to Israel; $935 on the only nonstop service between Miami and Tel Aviv; and $1,035 on the only nonstop flights between Los Angeles and Tel Aviv.
EL AL is also offering spectacular roundtrip winter fares when traveling from many more cities in the U.S.A. to Israel during the same time period. The low fare of $747 is available when departing from Boston, Baltimore, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C.; $847 when traveling from Atlanta, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Detroit and Kansas City; $947 when departing from Denver, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Orlando, Phoenix, San Antonio, St. Louis and Tampa; $1,047 when traveling from Las Vegas, Seattle, San Francisco and Salt Lake City. Included in these special fares are flights from each of the above cities on a leading domestic carrier, which connect to an EL AL flight to Israel.
From the US, EL AL's winter schedule includes 26 weekly flights (22 of which are nonstop). The carrier offers 17 weekly nonstop flights from New York (JFK and Newark), the only nonstop flights from Miami (Tuesday afternoon and Saturday evening), and the only nonstop service from Los Angeles to Israel (Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday). EL AL also operates direct flights, with no change of plane, four times a week from Chicago (Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday).
To purchase one of these special winter fares, call your travel agent or EL AL at 212-768-9200 in New York or 800-223-6700 or visit www.elal.com .
Alaska Airlines Launches New Seattle/Cancun Service
Alaska Airlines inaugurates nonstop service from Seattle to Cancun, Mexico as part of the airline's Mexico expansion plan. The first flight, Flight 296, will be celebrated with
Mexican-themed festivities before it departs Seattle-Tacoma International Airport October 27. The route is the first of five new routes serving Mexico the airline will introduce during the coming week as it increases Mexico capacity by 22 percent.
London City Airport Sold to Group of Investors
The sale of London City Airport to a US-led consortia will increase the volume of business travelers to London’s eastside, and directly impact on ExCeL London’s profile in International markets according to the venue’s CEO, Jamie Buchan.
“London City Airport is as a vital component in the future development of London’s eastside and as a venue, we have seen how business travelers are increasingly utilising the gateway,” says Buchan. “With all of the increased traffic and developments expected as we build towards 2012, further investment – such as that suggested by these reports – is essential to accommodate the growing volume and interest in the region.”
The Docklands airport was put up for sale earlier this year by Irish owner Dermot Desmond and an agreement has been signed with a consortium comprising AIG Financial Products Corp and Global Infrastructure Partners. Although the value of the transaction has not been disclosed it is estimated that the sale is worth around £750m. This is reflective of the confidence in the airport’s development potential to boost passenger numbers to three and half million by 2015 and eight million by 2030
Code-Share Deals In JetBlue’s Future?
This month, JetBlue said it hoped to form code-sharing agreements with international carriers in the near future. The airline is negotiating with "large international carriers" to cross-sell seats from its New York base at John F. Kennedy Airport.
JetBlue, AirTran to serve New York's Stewart International
Two carriers plan to launch service from Stewart International Airport, near Newburgh, N.Y., 60 miles north of New York City. JetBlue announced it will begin service
between Newburgh's Stewart International Airport (SWF), the airline's
sixth New York State destination, and Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, Florida, with daily nonstop flights to each city beginning December 19. Beginning January 5, a second daily flight will be added to Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. Additionally, one daily nonstop flight to West Palm Beach, Florida will begin January 5, making the low-cost carrier
The new services will give a boost to the local economy as well as eliminate the long trek into the metropolitan New York area for flights at the three airports.
JetBlue’s new service will be followed by new services operatd by Air Tran out of Stewart. The airline will launch new nonstop service to Atlanta, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa, on January 11, 2007. The routes will be served by the quiet and fuel efficient Boeing 717-200 aircraft, part of AirTran Airways' youngest all-Boeing fleet in America.
New JetBlue Non-Service Planned From New York/JFK to Chicago, Los Angeles
JetBlue Airways announce it will begin nonstop service to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport from New York's John F. KennedyInternational Airport (JFK) and LA/Long Beach Airport effective January 4, 2007
Service between Chicago/O'Hare and New York/JFK will be operated by
JetBlue's fleet of Airbus 320 and EMBRAER 190 aircraft. JetBlue's customers in Chicago will have convenient connections to 26 destinations via New York/JFK, including: Aruba; Bermuda; Aguadilla, Ponce and San Juan, PR; Nassau; and Santiago, Dominican Republic.
American Airlines Announces New Menus on US/Japan Flights
In celebration of almost 20 years of service to Japan, American Airlines today announces enhanced premium class menus for flights between the United States and Japan. In May 1987, American Airlines made its first flight to Japan, and today, the company offers daily service on its Boeing 777 aircraft to Japan from Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, New York John F. Kennedy Airport and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
The redesigned First and Business Class menus offer both traditional Japanese-style dishes as well as western fusion cuisine. Japanese American Airlines employees in the United States and Japan teamed up with chefs from Gate Gourmet International to design new menus that would appeal to travelers from both parts of the world. New menu items were first introduced on flights originating in Japan and traveling to the United States on September 1, 2006, and will be available to passengers flying from the United States to Japan starting November 1.
For passengers with a taste for traditional Japanese cuisine, the new menus feature a kobachi dish of rice wine-marinated calamari accented by wasabi mayonnaise, presented with flying fish roe on a bed of radish sprouts, red and yellow cherry tomatoes, and leaf lettuce. In addition AA will offer a hassun dish of grilled chicken topped with carrot paste, accompanied by cauliflower with seared dengaku miso, sweet-simmered herring, cod roe egg cake, and grilled shishito pepper filled with cream cheese. The menu will also feature traditional Japanese soups such as miso soup with wakame seaweed and tofu. Menus will be updated seasonally, beginning with the current autumn menu.
The Western-style menus feature cilantro chicken served with a summer noodle salad; fillet of beef with mango-chili demi-glace and bleu cheese potatoes; seafood risotto including shrimp and scallops served with roasted tomato risotto and a creamy goat cheese sauce; as well as a pork and shrimp noodle bowl with sauteed peppers and shitake mushrooms served on a bed of noodles with oyster sauce. A full copy of the menu can be found at http://www.aa.com/dining.
The new U.S.-Japan menus follow American's U.S.-Europe premium class menu enhancements made last fall.
US Air Transport Association Launches Revamped Web Site
The Air Transport Association of America (ATA), the industry trade organization representing leading U.S. airlines, recently launched a redesigned Web site with improved public access to valuable U.S. commercial aviation industry information.
The new Web site infrastructure, reorganized information and design enhancements provide users with the industry’s best Web tool on U.S. commercial aviation. The site includes a vastly improved search engine, a new site map and topics list, as well as Web pages available in print-friendly format. More improvements will be phased in over the next few months.
ATA airline members transport more than 90 percent of all U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic.
Holiday Time Is Nearly Here And ASTA Offers Some Advice For Air Travel
With the 2006 holiday travel season fast approaching, the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) is offering some basic tips, specific to the mode of travel, to help people avoid common travel mistakes and inconveniences.
Tips for air travel include:
-- Book your ticket ASAP. However, if circumstances force you into booking at the last minute, remember, you have options. The key to securing the best deal is flexibility in travel dates—ask your travel agent to check into holiday fares (flights on Thanksgiving; Christmas and New Year's Day), the slow week between Christmas and New Year’s; or consider flying into an alternate airport, renting a car, or using connecting flights.
If your holiday vacation includes air travel outside the United States, make sure you have a valid passport. Beginning January 8, 2007, air travelers will be required to have a passport to enter the United States. Your travel agent can advise you on the new rules and the most convenient way to apply for a passport.
-- Arrive early for your flight. Difficult airport parking, long lines at security checkpoints and the possibility of the airline overselling the flight and bumping passengers, should all be considered when deciding what time to arrive at the airport. It is important to give yourself extra time by getting there early. Those arriving earliest on an overbooked flight stand the greatest chance of staying onboard. Check your airport’s Web site for real-time parking status and estimated check-in waits.
-- Pack gifts, liquid items in checked baggage. Due to this summer’s thwarted airline terror plot, there have been numerous changes in the rules regarding what you can carry on a plane. Limits vary based on your destination, type of aircraft, and even your airline. To avoid problems, instead of carrying items on board such as gifts, pack them, unwrapped, in baggage that will be checked. Be sure to tag all carry-on and checked baggage, with name, address and phone number both inside and outside your bag. Ask your travel agent to provide you with baggage and carry-on information for your specific flight(s).
-- Keep a close eye on all your belongings. Just as airports are extremely crowded during the peak holiday period with travelers, they can also be fraught with thieves working the airports. Be aware of your surroundings and maintain a close watch over tickets, wallets, purses, and other belongings at all times.
Tips for travel by car include:
-- Plan itineraries and arrange accommodations well in advance. Reservations for hotels, restaurants and rental cars get booked quickly during peak travel times. Your travel agent can help you get the lowest rate and make sure your rental car has room for your family, luggage and whatever souvenirs you bring home.
-- Get a tune up. Before any long-distance drive, make sure to have your oil changed and your brakes, fluids and tire pressure checked. The slightest deficiency in air pressure significantly reduces your car’s gas mileage. On the flip side, too much air can result in a flat.
-- Get an early start to avoid holiday gridlock. Traveling during late night/early morning hours helps. The worst times to travel are after meals since most travelers postpone leaving until they’ve eaten with their families. Make sure that all drivers are thoroughly rested.
For a full list of essential holiday travel tips, log onto www.TravelSense.org , ASTA’s consumer website.
American Airlines Introduces New Vacation Packages to China
Visit Shanghai, China, in style with new vacation packages provided by American Airlines Vacations. Travelers can experience the culture and personality of China's largest and most dynamic city with nonstop service from Chicago on American Airlines. On the ground, visitors can select from five hotel options located in Shanghai starting at $268 for five days/four nights (per person, land only, double occupancy). American Airlines Vacations new Shanghai hotels include The Westin, St. Regis Hotel, Pudong Shangri-La, Crowne Plaza, and the Rendezvous Merry Hotel. Details related to American Airlines Vacations packages can be found at http://www.aavacations.com.
For visitors interested in seeing the sites of Shanghai, American Airlines Vacations offers additional vacation components to peak any traveler's interest including acrobatic shows, shopping and city tours, and a Huangpu River Cruise. All optional tour packages may be purchased when booking the American Airlines Vacations accommodations.
American Airlines AAdvantage(R) members who book travel with American Airlines Vacations earn 1,000 AAdvantage bonus miles when booking online at http://www.aavacations.com. Shanghai travelers who book airline tickets between today and March 31, 2007, will earn an additional 10,000 AAdvantage bonus miles. Details related to the Shanghai AAdvantage bonus offer can be found at http://www.aa.com/offers. On the other hand, AAdvantage members looking to redeem miles for a trip to Shanghai can claim off-peak seasonal awards at reduced mileage levels between Oct. 1, 2006, and April 30, 2007. Details related to the AAdvantage off-peak awards can be found at http://www.aa.com/awards.
American Airlines daily nonstop service to Shanghai departs Chicago O'Hare International Airport at 11:05 a.m. and arrives at Shanghai's Pudong International Airport at 2:15 p.m. the following day, local time. From Shanghai, American offers convenient connections to several cities within China through its long-standing alliance with China Eastern Airlines, which is based in Shanghai and is one of China's largest airlines. Returning, American's flight departs Shanghai at 4:25 p.m., arriving in Chicago at 5 p.m. of the same day, local time. Passengers can connect in Chicago to more than 100 destinations served with nonstop flights by American and American Eagle Airlines. Additionally, American is a founding member of the global oneworld(R) alliance.
Details about the American Airlines Vacations Shanghai hotels and add-on options:
* The Westin, Shanghai - The Westin was the first five-star hotel to make its debut in the metropolitan city's elegant Bund area. With 301 guest rooms and suites, the hotel showcases European architecture from the 1920s and 1930s.
* St. Regis Hotel, Shanghai - Located in the center of the emerging Central Business District of Pudong, the St. Regis Hotel features Hirsch Bedner designed guestrooms and a unique dining experience with high quality cuisine and all-day dining venues.
* Pudong Shangri-La, Shanghai - With two high-rise towers consisting of 981 guestrooms, including club floors and suites, the Pudong Shangri-La features spectacular views.
* Crowne Plaza, Shanghai - Situated in the center of the city and only minutes away from the Xujihui shopping district, consulate district and exhibition venues
* Rendezvous Merry Hotel, Shanghai - Bringing sophisticated style and personalized service to the heart of Jing An District of Puxi Shanghai, the Rendezvous Merry Hotel is located seven minutes from Jing An Commercial and Shopping Centre and Jiangsu Road Metro Station.
American Airlines Vacations is the only travel vacation company that allows customers to redeem AAdvantage miles for vacation land components and tour packages. AAdvantage miles can be used for payment, either by themselves or with a credit card co-payment. Examples include:
* Acrobatic Show - Attend a thrilling performance with round-trip transfer service between the hotel and theatre.
* Shopping and City Tours - Visit the great shopping of Shanghai including antique, pearl and silk stores, Nanjing Road and Old Town Bazaar.
* Huangpu River Cruise - Enjoy a one hour boat cruise on the Huangpu River with round-trip transfer between the hotel and the wharf.
Northwest Expands Boarding Pass Faxing Service to International Locations
Northwest Airlines today announced that customers may now print their boarding passes at international fax machines after checking in for flights over the Internet as the airline expands its boarding pass by fax option to international locations.
In July 2005, Northwest enhanced its Internet check-in service to allow customers to select from either the "print boarding pass" or "fax boarding pass" option after beginning the check-in process at http://www.nwa.com/ . If the "print boarding pass" option is selected, the boarding pass is sent to a nearby printer. If the "fax boarding pass" option is chosen, customers are asked to enter a fax number, and the service faxes the boarding pass to them at the number of their choice. Initially, the service was able to send boarding passes to North American fax numbers. More than 200,000 Northwest customers have received their boarding passes using the fax feature since its implementation last year.
Self-service check-in is the preferred form of check-in for the vast majority of Northwest's customers, allowing them to speed through the check-in process in as little as 90 seconds. During the month of September, 83 percent of Northwest's customers checked in for their flights over the Internet at the airline's http://www.nwa.com/ Web site or at one of 1,100 self-service check-in kiosks located in 229 airports spanning the globe. Northwest has kiosks in more locations than any other airline in the world.
All of Northwest's 1,100 self-service check-in kiosks are equipped with passport readers, saving time for international travelers by allowing them to slide their passport through the kiosk reader to provide needed information from the passport electronically, rather than manually entering the information using the kiosk keypad.
The airline's kiosks are available to travelers in every airport served by Northwest in North America and all 15 of the cities in the airline's Asia/Pacific network. Customers checking in for Northwest flights originating in Europe are able to do so through the kiosks of the airline's trans-Atlantic joint venture partner, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, or through Air France kiosks at Charles de Gaulle International Airport in Paris.
Icelandair To Offer New Service To Halifax
Icelandair will offer a new service to Canada in its 2007 summer schedule. The Canadian city of Halifax (YHZ), Nova Scotia, will be served by three flights each week from London Heathrow Terminal 1 between May 17 and September 3, 2007. Connections will also be available from Glasgow and passengers from Manchester will be able to create twin-centre trips with one or more nights in Iceland en route. “Bringing Halifax into our schedule means Icelandair will serve six North American gateways in summer 2007, the others being New York, Boston, Baltimore-Washington, Minneapolis-St Paul and Orlando Sanford.” Says Icelandair UK & Ireland General Manager, Stephen Brown.
SWISS Increases Its International Flights
Swiss International Air Lines will operate more intercontinental flights as of the new winter timetable, the increase being made possible by the integration of two additional Airbus A330 aircraft into the fleet in November and December. As under the summer timetable, SWISS will serve 69 destinations in winter (27 intercontinental and 42 in Europe) in 42 countries. Another 14 destinations will be served directly from Zurich in codeshare operation with various partners. The winter timetable is valid from October 29, 2006, until March 24, 2007.
From December SWISS will operate a daily service to Miami (previously five times weekly), and will expand service to Santiago de Chile via Sao Paulo from five to six times weekly. Service to Saudi Arabia via Riyadh to Jeddah will be increased from three to four times weekly.
In Africa SWISS will again have its own aircraft in operation, replacing the leased-in aircraft with an Airbus A330 as of mid-November. Nairobi and Dar es Salaam will be served five times weekly (previously three times weekly).
SWISS will offer two new routes in partnership with Lufthansa: Geneva-Hamburg and Geneva-Stuttgart. Cross-border flights are another way in which customers benefit from the cooperation between SWISS and Lufthansa. Together, the two partners now offer 580 flights weekly between Switzerland and Germany, with ideal connections to destinations within Europe and overseas.
As announced earlier, due to its integration into Star Alliance SWISS is terminating its codeshare agreement with American Airlines. As a result the non-stop service to Dallas will no longer be offered.
Flights operated on behalf of SWISS
Privat Air will continue to perform Boeing Business Jet flights on behalf of SWISS to New York (Newark). These flights will operate daily except Saturday. The agreements with Darwin (Bern-London City and Zurich-Lugano) and Cirrus (Zurich-Nürnberg and Zurich-Stuttgart) will remain in effect.
To stabilize the European timetable, SWISS will lease a Helvetic Airways Fokker 100 for the coming winter months (October 29 to February 28). This aircraft will be mainly deployed on the Zurich-Manchester route.
With the introduction of the new winter timetable more Star Alliance partner airlines will move into the SWISS Terminal at Zurich Airport, which becomes home to the third Star Alliance terminal, after the ones at Paris and Tokyo. Customers of the following airlines will be able to check in at the SWISS Terminal from the end of October: SWISS, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, United Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, TAP Air Portugal, Spanair, Adria, Croatia and Blue 1. For capacity reasons South African Airways, Singapore Airlines, Thai International Airlines and Air Canada will remain at Terminal 2 for the time being.
Overview of the most important additional services as of the start of the winter timetable (all new services shown in bold) include:
Intercontinental:
- Zurich-Miami LX64/ 65 Daily (new Tues./Thurs.)
- Zurich-Riyadh-Jeddah LX228/ 229 Tues., Thurs., Sat., Sun.
- Zurich-Nairobi-Dar es Salaam LX292/ 293 Mon., Wed., Thurs., Fri., Sat.
- Zurich-Sao Paulo-Santiago de Chile LX96/ 97 Daily except Fri. (new Mon.)
- Zurich-New York (JFK) LX16/17 Daily (new Sun.)
- Zurich-Cairo LX 236/ 237 Daily (new Fri.)
Europe:
- Geneva-Hamburg
(Codeshare with Lufthansa) LX3698/ 3699 Daily
- Geneva-Stuttgart
(Codeshare with Lufthansa) LX3700/ 3701 Daily except Saturday.
Summer 2007 Sees Additional Service To North America & Scandinavia
Icelandair will increase its number of flights by 17 percent in 2007, providing the largest schedule in the history of the airline. The company celebrates its 70th anniversary next year with additional flights and capacities from three of its current North American gateway cities, a new Canadian gateway, and two new Scandinavian destinations.
Icelandair will bolster its summer 2007 schedules by adding early- afternoon departures from Boston and New York-JFK, four and three times weekly, respectively. "These flights are designed to give our passengers an option of daytime or overnight (current) flights to Iceland, and are designed to be the first step towards further network growth in the years to come," said Gunnar Eklund, General Manager - The Americas. "Our summer flights out of Boston and New York have had very high load factors in the past years, and the demand continues to grow," he continued. "Summer travel demand out of Baltimore/Washington International Airport is also very encouraging, and we are therefore replacing our present Boeing 757-200 services with the larger Boeing 767 aircraft. Following our new route network setup and the future ambitions attached to it, the San Francisco - Iceland route will be discontinued."
Icelandair will again take off from Halifax, Canada beginning with its summer schedule next year. There will be three flights per week to Iceland that connect onwards to Icelandair's many other destinations in Scandinavia, Continental Europe and the United Kingdom. "We are pleased to be flying from Halifax again," stated Eklund, referring to Icelandair's renewal of its service after a several-year hiatus. "The Halifax operations will provide an excellent opportunity to service the growing number of Icelandic companies in Canada, and for Atlantic Canada residents to visit Iceland, our unique and spectacular home country, on the way to some of our many destinations in Europe," he added.
The airline will continue to grow its service to Scandinavia with two new destinations in spring 2007. The added frequencies will result in Icelandair operating up to 10 times per day from Iceland to the Nordic countries by next summer. The new destinations are Bergen, Norway and Gothenburg, Sweden, which join Icelandair's other Scandinavian destinations: Copenhagen, Helsinki, Oslo, and Stockholm.
Icelandair currently offers evening departing flights from its US gateways in Baltimore/Washington, Boston, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York-JFK and Orlando Sanford. Reykjavik, Iceland serves as the airline's hub, with connecting flights to Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Glasgow, London, Manchester, Oslo, Paris and Stockholm, and seasonal flights to Barcelona, Berlin, Helsinki, Madrid, Milan, Munich and Zurich.
Icelandair reservations and information are available at (800) 223-5500 and online at http://www.icelandair.com /.
SWISS to sizeably expand its Basel-based network
Six new non-stop destinations and attractive fares of as little as CHF 99 (including taxes and fees): this is the combination with which SWISS will be substantially expanding its product offer in the tri-national Basel region from January 15 onwards. Barcelona, Nice, Prague, Budapest, Manchester and Warsaw all join the Basel-based SWISS network, raising to ten the points served non-stop from EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg and underlining SWISS's commitment to the airport and the region. Together with its Star Alliance partners, SWISS will offer non-stop service from Basel to as many as 14 destinations.
On January 15, SWISS will add six new destinations to its present network of services to and from EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg: Barcelona (five weekly flights), Nice (four weekly flights), Prague (four weekly flights), Budapest (four weekly flights), Manchester (three weekly flights) and Warsaw (three weekly flights). The new flights, which will all be operated non-stop, will be augmented by daily connections via Zurich to all six destinations.
The existing SWISS destinations of London City and Brussels will have twice-daily service to and from Basel, while Amsterdam and Zurich will each have one daily non-stop flight.
SWISS's Basel-based network will be further supplemented by services to Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf and Vienna, operated by Star Alliance partners Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines under codeshare agreements.
SWISS passengers making same-day-return trips will particularly benefit from the new non-stop services: by eliminating the need to change planes in Zurich on the outward or the return leg, the new flights will substantially reduce the journey times involved.
Mexican Low-Cost Carrier to Kick off Service From Los Angeles and Las Vegas
Click Mexicana, Grupo Mexicana's first low- cost carrier in Mexico, announced the beginning of its services between Los Angeles and Las Vegas to Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico. The airline is currently the first low-cost Mexican carrier to offer service outside the Republic.
Click Mexicana will offer two weekly non-stop flights between Torreon's airport Francisco Sarabia (TRC) and Las Vegas International Airport (LAS) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The new flights are scheduled as follows:
-- Starting October 15th, flight 7194 departs Torreon (TRC) at 11:10 p.m.
and arrives Las Vegas at 12:05 a.m.
-- Starting October 16th, flight 7195 departs Las Vegas at 1:40 a.m. and
arrives Torreon at 6:20 a.m.
-- Starting October 18th, flight 190 departs Torreon (TRC) at 10:50 p.m.
and arrives Los Angeles (LAX) at 11:55 p.m.
-- Starting October 19th, flight 191 departs Los Angeles (LAX) at
1:40 a.m. and arrives Torreon (TRC) at 6:20 a.m.
The airline will be operating Fokker 100's with a configuration of 100 seats in one cabin with 35 inches of space between rows, placing it as one of the most comfortable under the category of "Coach Plus."
With its expansion to the U.S., Click Mexicana becomes another alternative for leisure and Hispanic travelers as it enters the market offering competitive fares and schedules. In addition to Las Vegas and Los Angeles, Click Mexicana offers flights to the following destinations in Mexico: Zihuatanejo, Huatulco, Puerto Escondidio, Oaxaca, Tuxtla Gutierrez, Villahermosa, Chetumal, Merida, Cancun, Cozumel, Saltillo, Nuevo Laredo, San Luis Potosi, Guadalajara, Torreon, Monterrey, Veracruz, Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico City and Habana. . U.S.-based passengers can purchase tickets to Torreon, Coahuila through http://www.mexicana.com
Click Mexicana is a member of Grupo Mexicana. Click Mexicana started operations in July of 2005. and it is the only low-cost airline enjoying the endorsement and experience of a company with a long tradition such as Mexicana Airlines. Currently, Click offers domestic flights from Mexico City to 16 destinations.
Air Canada To Launch Non-Stop Service Between Montreal And Rome
Air Canada will launch non-stop service between Montreal and Rome to meet peak seasonal travel demand. Beginning June 1, 2007 until September 30, 2007, the carrier will operate daily non-stop flights linking Canada's second largest city, and its
extensive Quebec and Atlantic Canada network, with the Italian capital. Air Canada offers connecting flights via Rome to popular destinations in Italy operated by Air One, a Lufthansa partner airline."
Air Canada's Montreal-Rome non-stop service will be operated using207-seat Boeing 767-200 ER aircraft. With an eastbound flight time of eight hours, travelers will save more than two hours off alternate routings via Montréal-based Air Canada provides scheduled and charter air transportation for passengers and cargo to more than 150 destinations on five continents
Northwest to Fly Hartford-Amsterdam Nonstop
Northwest Airlines will offer the first and only nonstop service between Hartford and Amsterdam, the Netherlands, beginning July 1, 2007. In addition to providing the first and only nonstop service connecting Hartford-area travelers with one of Europe's most popular business and leisure destinations and establishing Hartford's only nonstop trans-Atlantic bridge, the new daily flight is timed to enable single connections to 81 cities in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and India through Northwest/KLM's convenient Amsterdam hub.
The flight is being offered in cooperation with Northwest's joint venture partner KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and is part of an expansion of Northwest's European flight network.
Northwest's new flights from Hartford and other select U.S. cities to Europe are being operated with Boeing 757-200 aircraft. The aircraft are being fitted with "winglets," or extensions of the aircraft wing, that improve the fuel efficiency of the 757 and in doing so, also extend its range.
Hartford will become Northwest/KLM's 18th gateway to Europe through its Amsterdam hub.
Other New Destinations, Flights, Added As Part of European Expansion
Northwest also announced it will increase the number of European destinations it serves from its WorldGateway at Detroit hub with new service to Brussels, Belgium beginning May 7, 2007 and Dusseldorf, Germany beginning June 5, 2007. In addition, Northwest/KLM announced it will add new frequencies between Detroit and Amsterdam beginning June 15, 2007, and a second daily flight between Amsterdam and Boston on July 15, 2007. Also, Northwest/KLM's service between Newark and Amsterdam will be operated by Northwest, allowing the two airlines to offer a third daily frequency from New York (JFK) to Amsterdam, operated by KLM, beginning July 1, 2007.
Northwest's Detroit-Brussels and Detroit-Dusseldorf flights will initially operate five days per week. Beginning June 15, 2007, the flights will be offered on a daily basis.
All of Northwest's new flights are currently available for sale through the airline's Web site at http://www.nwa.com , Northwest Reservations Centers at 1-800-447-4747, or through some travel agents.
AirTran Airways Welcomes Passengers to Bill Me Later
- I4 Commerce, the leading provider of payment and marketing technology solutions for multichannel merchants, today announced that AirTran Airways, one of America's largest low-fare airlines, is offering customers the ability to pay with Bill Me Later(R). Part of I4 Commerce's PayCapture suite, Bill Me Later offers AirTran Airways' travelers a fast, convenient and secure way to pay for flights without using credit card information.
Consumers who purchase airline tickets with Bill Me Later can take advantage of no payments for 90 days.
I4 Commerce's PayCapture suite enables multi-channel merchants to take back their point-of-sale payment experience to capture lost sales, increase customer loyalty and maximize profits. Through a single implementation, PayCapture gives merchants access to a suite of technology solutions including Bill Me Later, promotional financing, private label and integrated marketing programs.
AirTran Airways, a Fortune 1000 company and one of America's largest low-fare airlines with 7,800 friendly, professional Crew Members, operates nearly 700 daily flights to 50 destinations. The airline's hub is at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where it is the second largest carrier. For reservations or more information, visit www.airtran.com.
I4 Commerce is a rapidly growing technology company helping to connect leading merchants with high value customers by improving the purchase experience. For more information, visit http://www.i4commerce.com/.
US Homeland Security Installs e-Passport Readers At Airports To Meet Deadline
Several airports including New York (Kennedy), Los Angeles, Washington (Dulles) and Newark, according to the Dept. of Homeland Security have installed e-Passport Readers. E-passports feature an international e-passport symbol on the cover. They also contain an RFID (radio frequency identification) chip that contains digital information about the passport holder, such as biographic information and a biometric identifier, which could include a digital photograph or fingerprints of the holder.
All e-passports issued by VWP countries and the US. also have security features to prevent the unauthorized reading or "skimming" of data stored on the chip, the DHS said.
Countries participating in the VWP are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
VWP countries reciprocate by permitting U.S. travelers to visit without visas as well.
Further Delays To The A380 Program Affect Singapore Airlines
Airbus has confirmed a further delay to the deliveries of the 19 A380 aircraft ordered by Singapore Airlines. The first A380 will now be scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2007, and deliveries of subsequent aircraft will occur in 2008 and beyond.
Singapore Airlines is assessing the impact that the delays, just notified, will have on forward capacity growth, and assessing options to mitigate the situation.
However, new capacity will be injected to the Singapore Airlines fleet, with the first of 19 Boeing 777-300ER aircraft being delivered in November 2006. Six of these aircraft will be delivered before the end of 2006, and ten will be in service by mid-2007.
Singapore Airlines will remain the First to Fly the new super-jumbo, and, as was the case under the former delivery schedule, will receive the first four aircraft
Ryanair Bids For Aer Lingus
Ryanair has launched a €1.48bn bid to buy Aer Lingus, it was reported this month. The low-cost airline said it had bought a 16 percent stake in Aer Lingus and was offering €2.80 per share for remaining stocks.
Qantas Introduces New Benchmark In Lounge Service
Qantas has announced a partnership with luxury hotel brand Sofitel that will see the hotel group operate the airline’s new International First class lounges in Sydney and Melbourne. Qantas Group General Manager Customer Product and Services Lesley Grant, said that Sofitel’s expertise in the luxury hotel market would support Qantas’ commitment to delivering world-class levels of service. “The lounges will set a new benchmark in service with restaurant style dining and waiter service throughout. Customers will be able to order from a wide selection of freshly prepared meals designed by leading Australian chef Neil Perry.
The new Melbourne International First class lounge is scheduled to open in February 2007 and Sydney in April 2007. Website:
www.qantas.com
