THE BUSINESS TRAVEL MAGAZINE I 39 The Review ➔ Delta' s new level of comfort
DELTA Airlines will introduce a brand new premium economy product on all its international long-haul flights this summer. Called Economy Comfort, the
new seats will feature up to four additional inches of legroom and 50 per cent more recline compared to its standard economy seats. It will be installed in the first few rows of the Economy cabin on more than 160 of its Airbus and Boeing aircraft. Although the new premium economy product will not be in the league of that offered by the likes of Virgin Atlantic, Qantas and Air New Zealand, it will nevertheless be on a par with that offered by Delta joint venture partners Air France-KLM and Alitalia. Other perks of Economy Comfort include priority boarding and complimentary alcoholic spirits – meals, beer, wine and entertain- ment is also included, as per the standard Economy offering. Delta customers can upgrade to
the new product on bookings made from May at a cost of $80- $160 one-way, while complimentary
IN THE AIR IN BRIEF
• THE latest additions to the array of airline apps for smartphones include those from American Airlines and the SkyTeam airline alliance. The latter has launched an app for iPhone users which features worldwide flight schedules for its 13 member airlines, flight status, weather forecasts and useful contact numbers, all of which can be accessed while offline. Versions for BlackBerry and Android users will be available soon. American Airlines, meanwhile, has introduced an Android app following its iPhone and iPad versions that have attracted over one million downloads. The app includes a check-in facility, gate, seat and flight information and airport terminal maps.
upgrades to the seats will be offered to all SkyMiles Diamond and Platinum members. Gold and Silver members are eligible for 50 and 25 per cent off respectively, while customers purchasing a full- fare Economy ticket will also be entitled to a free upgrade. Delta has also announced it
plans to install 34 of its flatbed BusinessElite seats in each of its 32 Airbus A330s by 2013. “Just as Delta is investing in BusinessElite, which is among the industry's most competitive
BMI EXTENDS INTERNATIONAL REACH
premium products, it makes sense to offer enhancements to our Economy class service that provide additional comfort,“ says Glen Hauenstein, Delta's executive vice president of network planning, revenue management and marketing. “Economy Comfort is one of many elements that Delta is committed to delivering to our customers as part of a more than $2billion investment we are making in the air and on the ground to improve the customer experience.“
BA HEADS FOR TOKYO HANEDA
BMI is growing its international network this summer with a number of new services to Europe and North Africa. Daily flights from London Heathrow to Bergen and Stavanger in Norway commence on April 1st, along with a three- times-weekly service to Marrakech. They are promptly followed by a new four-times-weekly service between Heathrow and Casablanca which takes off on April 2nd. Return fares start from £99 to Bergen and Stavanger, £149 to Marrakech and £199 to Casablanca including VAT. A two-class service
will feature on all four new routes. Wolfgang Prock Schauer, bmi's
chief executive officer, says, “This builds on our network strategy to focus on international routes while still providing key domestic connectivity to London Heathrow. “This news follows the recent announcement of new flights from Heathrow to Tripoli, and a double daily service from Heathrow to Beirut. In addition, we have just launched a new service from Heathrow and from Manchester to Basel in Switzerland in partnership with SWISS,“ says Schauer.
BRITISH Airways has launched the only route between London Heathrow and Tokyo's Haneda Airport, a fast-expanding international hub for the Japanese capital. The new five-times-weekly service is in addition to its established daily service to Tokyo Narita. Haneda is Japan's main domestic hub but was reopened to international services last October after opening a fourth runway and third passenger terminal. BA's oneworld partners, American Airlines and Japan Airlines have also been quick to launch new international services from, respectively, New York JFK and Paris Charles de Gaulle, to Tokyo Haneda. JAL offers 185 daily departures from Haneda to 33 points across Japan.
• OMAN Air has opened new First and Business Class lounges at Muscat Airport. The luxurious facilities are open around the clock and feature dining facilities, washrooms, business centre and massage rooms with complimentary 15-minute treatments.
• IN TAIPEI, EVA Air has opened a new Diamond VIP lounge in Terminal 2 of Taoyuan International Airport for the exclusive use of Premium Laurel Class tickets holders and Evergreen Club Diamond Card members. It is the third EVA Air lounge at the airport.
• EASTERN Airways has added an extra weekday flight between Southampton and Aberdeen, taking its Monday to Friday operation to four a day. The new flight is a 6.45am departure from Southampton. Dedicated fast track security channels at Southampton and Aberdeen airports allow Eastern Airways passengers to avoid any security queues.
• EASYJET has launched its first service to Brussels from the UK. Fares on the route from Liverpool John Lennon Airport start from £23.99 one- way including taxes. The carrier’s UK general manager, Paul Simmons, says, “The launch of our first UK route to Brussels reflects our commitment to providing business travellers with the broadest choice of destinations at the lowest possible fares.”
• LOW-COST carrier AirAsia has launched a ‘Fly-Thru’ service as it moves towards connecting flights rather than its traditional point-to-point model. The service is now available on routes from London Stansted, via Kuala Lumpur, to Perth (with return fares from £770 return), Melbourne (£847) and Christchurch, New Zealand (£912), as well as on its short-haul network from KL. Flights will no longer need to be booked separately, nor luggage checked in twice. In addition, passengers on the Fly-Thru service are guaranteed a free move to the next available flight in the event of a missed connection.
38 I THE BUSINESS TRAVEL MAGAZINE
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