Airline news
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Move BA to Heathrow Terminal 5 almost completed
New with Continental: automatic check-in for the return flight
Czech Airlines - 85 years of service excellence
LOT: 11 times in a row chosen Best Airline in Eastern Europe
Malaysia Airlines – a 5***** airline
SWISS new business class seating
Virgin Atlantic’s Clubhouse voted ‘Best in the world’
VLM Airlines sets the record straight on environmental impact of flying
Move BA to Heathrow Terminal 5 almost completedOn 22 October 2008, the last fase [1] of the move to Terminal 5 will be finalized. From that date, all BA flights will depart and arrive from Terminal 5.
BA’s recently opened Galleries Club lounge in Terminal 5 satellite B offers the same service and facilities as the lounge complex in the main terminal building, including: The Silver Bar, The Silver Island Bar, Wine Gallery, Work and Entertainment Zones, Elemis Travel Spa, Shower Suite, and Kids Zone.
The Galleries lounges make up the largest airport lounge complex in the world and the perfect place to unwind, catch up on a little work, or even be pampered in our Elemis Travel Spa. Shopping is also a delight – discover unique stores that top brands have created especially for the terminal along with exclusive products that cannot be found anywhere else.Since its opening, the terminal has seen more than seven million people travel through it and strongly improved its performance.
- 82% [2] of BA’s customers say they are very satisfied with BA’s new Galleries Lounges in Terminal 5
- 8,6 minutes [3] is the average time for customers to check-in with 96 check-in kiosks and up to 96 fast bag drops available in the departures hall. Passengers travelling in Club Europe or Club World and Gold and Silver Executive Club members also have access to dedicated check-in desks.
- Bags are already at the carousel when passengers arrive (22 minutes [3] in average after the aircraft has landed).
[1] Boston, Denver, Seattle, Montréal, Calgary, Madras, Delhi, Calcutta, Shanghai, Islamabad, Dacca, Dubai
[2] Data taken from the British Airways onboard satisfaction monitor for period 01-31 August 2008
[3] Taken from customer surveys done at Terminal 5 between 0600-1400 daily, for the period of 08-12 September 2008
New with Continental: automatic check-in for the return flightPassengers travelling with Continental Airlines can check-in online at www.continental.com between 24 hours and 60 minutes before scheduled departure, even with bags to check. Additionally, travellers can now also select the ‘auto check-in’ option during the online check-in process. This new service will automatically check passengers in for the return flight 24 hours prior to departure. Boarding passes can be received via email, fax or at the airport kiosk. ‘Auto Check-in’ is available on both international and domestic flights.
Passengers can also select or change their seat and add their frequent flyer number online. Customers with checked bags just drop off their luggage at the ‘continental.com bag drop’ desk at the airport.
In short:
Continental.com > Travel Center > Flight Check-in- Check-in for your flight between 24 hours and 60 minutes before scheduled departure
- Review your reservation and itinerary online
- Select a seat
- Choose the ‘auto check-in’ option for your return flight
- Print your boarding pass or receive it by fax
- Drop your bags at the airport at the ‘continental.com bag drop’ sign (EliteAccess check-in)
Tip for passengers
In order to be able to check-in online, it is important to make sure that the passenger’s correct and complete first name and family name are used in the reservation, as mentioned in their passport.
Czech Airlines - 85 years of service excellence
As one of the most senior European airlines, Czech Airlines is proud to celebrate its 85th anniversary this month.
Their services have changed completely through the years, from simple flights with the Aero A-14 Brandenburg Aircraft to the modern Airbus aircrafts used today. But some aspects of their operation stayed the same – their focus on safety, reliability and the best care for passengers.
Business Class passengers can enjoy the luxury of 2+2 seat pitch, a choice of 2 hot meals and 18 kg hand luggage allowance. For Business Premium passengers on flights with OK-code, Czech Airlines offers a new free taxi transport service to and from the airport in Prague. Travel Class passengers can enjoy a complimentary service on board and 12 kg hand luggage allowance.
Even in these challenging times Czech Airlines is still providing excellent service to more than 70 destinations in Europe, Middle East and North America. Their 85 years experience is a guarantee of a first class service, as confirmed by the many awards they have received.
LOT: 11 times in a row chosen Best Airline in Eastern Europe
LOT Polish Airlines received for the eleventh time the title of the Best Airline in Eastern Europe, awarded by readers of prestigious British magazine Business Traveller. Since 1998, LOT has been receiving awards of Business Traveller year by year. One of LOT’s strong points is its flight connection network. The airline offers frequent flights to tens of European cities including key business hubs, scheduled for the convenience of business travellers. A number of flights link Warsaw with key European cities every day, to provide flexible departure options and the return on an evening flight on the same day.
Poland to be promoted at CNN International
On September 26th, a 12-week promotional campaign of Poland’s economy and tourism was launched at CNN. Poland is a modern and dynamically developing country, a place attractive to tourists and a reliable economic partner as well as a perfect investment destination.It is certainly worth emphasizing that the initiative results from an efficient co-operation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency, the Polish Tourist Organization and LOT Polish Airlines. The aim of the project is the positive image creation of the country.
Poland’s promotional campaign in the CNN network was thought to complement a series of programs devoted to Poland; the country’s economy, politics, tourism and culture prepared by CNN and presented under a joint title ‘Eye on Poland’, which are scheduled for broadcasting between October 6th-12th 2008.
Malaysia Airlines – a 5***** airline
Malaysia Airlines is a 5-star airline and has daily non-stop flights with a Boeing 747-400 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur with excellent connections to destinations within Malaysia, Asia, Australia and New-Zealand.
On board of their flight from Amsterdam, you’re invited to choose between Economy Class, Business Class and First Class. In Business Class and First Class cabin, you can stretch out in sleeper seats for a good night’s sleep. Experience fine dining with an à la carte menu and choose over 300 hours of on-demand movies with Select In-Flight entertainment. When you fly with Malaysia Airlines, you are flying with ‘World’s Best Cabin Staff’. Let them charm you with the warmth and sincerity that has won the hearts of many passengers and international awards. But more importantly, they look forward to making your time with them a pleasant experience.
SWISS new business class seating
SWISS is the perfect travel partner during your business trip. Not only because of the extensive route map but also the assurance that SWISS guarantees the highest possible comfort level towards her business class travellers. That’s why SWISS is introducing a mould-breaking new seating concept for its intercontinental business class cabins; the unique, innovative ‘lie-flat’ business seats. The new seating will give SWISS Business travellers a ‘bed above the clouds’!
The SWISS business seat is fully reclinable and two meters long. The lie-flat seats will also set new benchmarks with their air cushion feature that extends throughout its length. It allows the business traveller to set the seat hardness for each seating position to meet individual wishes and needs. The new seat boasts further extras such as an integrated massage function, USB and iPod sockets and a bigger 16:9-format in-flight entertainment screen to make the trip even more comfortable.
The first SWISS business seats will be installed in the new SWISS Airbus A330-300’s from March 2009 onwards. All SWISS business customers should be enjoying a truly excellent in-flight seating and sleeping experience on all SWISS long-haul flights by 2011.
Enjoy, SWISS made! For further information please visit SWISS.COM or ask your CWT travel agent.
As of October 27th, TAP starts operating flights to Morocco. Flights will run once a day between Lisbon and Casablanca except on Sundays.
Demand for this new destination has already come to confirm the uptake of passengers of this investment by the company in one of the largest and most important cities in Morocco. Casablanca airport – Mohamed V - is one of the primary traffic distribution hubs to several countries in Western Africa and also enables passengers to make connections to other cities in Morocco such as Agadir, Marrakech and Fez.
Hence TAP is diversifying its offer of flights in Africa and now operates to nine destinations. In addition to Casablanca, TAP also serves the cities of Bissau, Dakar, Luanda, Maputo, Johannesburg, Sal, Praia and Sao Tome in a total of 41 flights a week.TAP increases dedicated check-in desks at Lisbon airport
With a view to constantly increasing the service it provides its passengers with, TAP is now offering tap| plus and Victoria Silver cardholders new check-in desks with differential customer care alongside the tap| executive check-in desks.
These desks are located in Premium Space, an exclusive area created by TAP in June to offer support to tap| executive passengers, Victoria Gold and tap| corporate cardholders.
Since August desks 6, 7 and 8 for tap| plus passengers and Victoria Silver cardholders have been added to the existing 5 desks in Premium Space, thus facilitating access and exclusive customer care for these passengers at Lisbon Airport.
Virgin Atlantic’s Clubhouse voted ‘Best in the world’
Virgin Atlantic’s Heathrow Clubhouse has won the ‘Best Business Class Lounge’ Award in the SkyTrax World Airline Awards 2008.
The Clubhouse at Heathrow, which is over 2,500 square metres in total, provides the ultimate pre-flight experience for every Upper Class passenger. A well planned and distinctly Virgin Atlantic style facility, the Clubhouse provides an excellent range of amenities, including Cowshed spa, offering facial treatments, massages, manicures, pedicures or a wet shave for men. Six steam-shower rooms, a St Tropez tanning booth, circular hydro spa pool and a sauna are amongst the options on offer.
Passengers can enjoy a stylish haircut; enjoy a blockbuster film in the Cinema, enjoy a delicious cocktail at the 14 meter long bar and choose from the extensive Brasserie menu for a richer dining experience. And everything is free of charge.Virgin Atlantic has industry leading Clubhouses in the following destinations worldwide: London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Newark, JFK New York, Washington, San Francisco, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Johannesburg. The airline recently opened a brand new Boston Clubhouse.
Virgin Atlantic has reopened its Narita Clubhouse in Japan after a total refurbishment. The Narita Clubhouse now boasts two sunken lounges and a raised sun deck seating area and new business facilities.
At the Virgin Atlantic destinations without a Clubhouse, passengers can use the lounge facilities of partner airlines like Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand and Gulf Air.
VLM Airlines sets the record straight on environmental impact of flying
VLM Airlines states facts based on independent data:
Aircrafts are one of the lowest sources of CO2
Aircrafts produce just 2% of global C02 emissions. Road transport, by contrast, produces 18% and shipping 6%.Aircrafts are fuel efficient
Over the past 40 years, aircrafts have become 7 times more fuel efficient. The Fokker 50 turboprop aircraft consumes just 3.24 litres per passenger/100kms – less than a Smart car which consumes 4.70 litres, whilst travelling at five times the speed.Aircrafts are less polluting than high speed trains
On a short range journey of around 500kms, typical of those operated by VLM Airlines and its competitors, a high speed train emits around 99 grams of CO2 per passenger/km, whilst a turboprop aircraft emits around 95 grams of CO2 per passenger kilometre.Emissions figures take account of infrastructural development
Figures on emissions can be misleading as they often fail to include the Hidden Energy Burden (HEB) - the energy needed to build vehicles and to construct railways, roads or runways. Taking this into account, the true average CO2 emissions figures on a 500kms journey are estimated to be 96 grams of CO2 per passenger/kilometre for a turboprop aircraft, 140 grams for a car (with two passengers), 150 grams for a high speed train and around 270 grams for a car with one passenger.Sources: IATA, IPCC, SANE, Fokker/Pratt & Whitney, Smart car website
