Ryanair Protests Swedish Air Tax

Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary has complained about Sweden's plan for a new environmental tax on flights, saying it would discourage his airline from adding flights to the Nordic country.

The Social Democrat government of Prime Minister Goran Persson has proposed an extra SEK100 Swedish krona (USD$12.67) on air tickets to encourage more environmentally friendly energy use. Several airlines have already protested about the new levy.

"When we hear things like the Swedish government imposing a stupid tax on travel, it is time to get up here to start fighting taxes," O'Leary told a news conference.

Ryanair, which added Sweden to its network in 1997, wants to continue to expand the number of flights, he said. If the tax were introduced, it would not, he added.

"Sweden will begin immediately to lose out," he said.

SAS, Fly Nordic, Skyways and Malmo Aviation have also protested against the proposed new tax.

The tax is part of government plans in the 2006 budget to raise taxes worth SEK3.6 billion (USD$456 million) on what it sees as environmentally harmful energy uses.

Source: airwise.com/Reuters

Lufthansa Buys Strategic Stake In Fraport

Lufthansa said it paid EUR170 million (USD$206.1 million) for a 4.95 percent stake in Frankfurt Airport operator Fraport to strengthen its partnership with its main air hub.

Lufthansa added on Friday that it plans to increase its stake in Fraport, which amounts to 4.5 million shares, to 5 percent in the short term.

"Our stake in the airport operator will intensify our partnership with Fraport and lastingly strengthen our airline's position at the major Frankfurt hub," Lufthansa Chief Executive Wolfgang Mayrhuber said in a statement.

Mayrhuber added that the stake in Fraport was a strategic investment in its core business, which would allow it to influence the airport's development and improve cooperation and quality.

Fraport Chief Executive Wilhelm Bender in the same statement welcomed Lufthansa's decision to buy a stake in Fraport.

Lufthansa is Fraport's largest airline customer at Frankfurt Airport, which is continental Europe's largest passenger and air freight hub. The airline has also invested in the second terminal at Munich Airport, its second-biggest base.

Lufthansa had repeatedly declined to comment this week on whether it had bought shares in Fraport after the German government announced the sale of its 18.2 percent stake in the airport operator on Wednesday.

Source: airwise.com/Reuters

Airlines Reeling From Wilma Impact

American Airlines and other air carriers have canceled hundreds of flights after Hurricane Wilma shut airports in Miami and other Florida cities, with full service unlikely to resume before Wednesday.

Wilma, at one time the most intense hurricane on record, left 6 million people and major airports without power and wrought destruction over a wider-than-expected area of the Sunshine State.

American canceled about 500 flights on Monday as a result of the storm and expected to cancel more than 400 more on Tuesday, said Tim Wagner, a spokesman for the carrier.

American, which operates 3,800 daily flights worldwide, is the sole airline with a hub in Miami, which serves as a major destination and connection point for Latin America.

"It is significant, no doubt," Wagner said. "It caught Miami a little harder than what a lot of people expected."

He said the shutdown would likely have some impact on fourth-quarter earnings, but that a lack of expenditure on pricey jet fuel would partially offset lost revenue.

Miami International Airport spokesman Marc Henderson said power had been restored and that workers were trying to repair damaged fences and loading bridges to get the airport ready to reopen, hopefully later on Tuesday.

"We're still not 100 percent sure when we're going to reopen," he said. "That's an attempt and it's not definite.

Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach airports were also closed until further notice, with Fort Myers airport set to open on Tuesday afternoon.

Northwest Airlines said it could look at operating overnight flights from the affected area after power is restored.

Other airlines including Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Delta Air Lines said they also had canceled flights.

Airlines were also watching out for potential delays and cancellations in the northeastern United States due to a severe storm which hit the area on Tuesday.

Source: airwise.com/Reuters

BAA Still In Race For Budapest Airport

British airport operator, BAA, said it expected to submit a bid when Hungary reopens the tendering process for the sale of a majority stake in Budapest Airport.

However, it declined to comment on media reports saying that its offer could exceed USD$2 billion, saying a price had not been determined.

"We are waiting to see what the revised tender price is. We are expecting something in the next few weeks," a BAA spokesman said.

BAA and Australia's Macquarie Airports Holdings are seen as front runners for the deal, which attracted bids of nearly USD$2 billion in the first round.

A potential rival bidder, Denmark's Copenhagen Airports, said on Monday it was dropping out of the race after Macquarie Airports launched an agreed takeover bid for Copenhagen.

Hungary's state privatization agency APV is relaunching the tendering process as the previous one was canceled when a Budapest court ruled it was invalid due to insufficient consultation with workers.

British newspaper The Sunday Times said bidding could go as high as EUR2 billion (USD$2.39 billion) and a source close to the situation said that bidding could exceed USD$2 billion but it was too early to speculate on price.

Germany's Hochtief and Frankfurt Airport operator Fraport are also expected to bid in the second round

Source: airwise.com/Reuters

Korean Air Signs Boeing Parts Deal

Korean Air on Thursday signed a USD$200 million deal to supply parts for Boeing's new 787 passenger jet.

The 787, a plane built largely of composite materials, is one of the most outsourced planes in history. European planemaker Airbus' parent EADS, Boeing's rival, is also making part of the plane.

Korean Air said in a statement it would develop and supply wing tips for the plane. Shipment would start in 2007, it added.

Korean Air, South Korea's biggest airline and the world's No.2 air cargo carrier in 2004, also manufactures and exports plane parts to major aerospace firms including Boeing and Airbus.

Korean Air said it has already ordered 10 Boeing 787 planes, which are expected to enter service in 2008.

Source: airwise.com/Reuters

Nigerian Plane Crashes, 116 Aboard

A Nigerian airliner with 116 people on board including some senior officials crashed shortly after taking off from Lagos en route to the capital Abuja, the government said on Sunday.

Bellview Airlines flight 210 took off at 8:45 p.m. (1945 GMT) on Saturday night and lost contact with the control tower minutes later during a heavy electrical storm.

Authorities located the wreckage of the Boeing 737-200 airliner in Kishi, Oyo state, in southwestern Nigeria about 200 km (120 miles) north of Lagos, a police source said about 12 hours later. It was not clear if there were any survivors, the source added.

"The government has been able to confirm that Bellview flight 210 may have gone down, thereby confirming our worst fears," Information Minister Frank Nweke told state radio earlier.

Emergency services launched a search and rescue mission.

The plane was carrying 116 people: 110 passengers and six crew, authorities said.

Initially, it was not known whether the plane had crashed, been hijacked or had made an emergency landing.

But the pilot made a distress call minutes after take-off on Saturday night, indicating the plane had a technical problem, a source at the presidency said.

State radio reported that several high ranking government officials were on the plane, but did not name them.

The privately owned Nigerian airline is popular with expatriates. Western diplomats feared several of their citizens could also have been on board.

Dozens of flights run each day between the port of Lagos -- one of the world's biggest cities -- and Abuja in the heart of Africa's most populous nation.

Boeing spokeswoman Liz Verdier told CNN by phone from Seattle the company would work with the US National Transportation Safety Board if the board were asked to help with any investigation.

She said the 737 was the "workhorse of the world commercial jet fleet".

Bellview Airlines could not confirm the airliner had crashed 11 hours after it disappeared and concerned relatives at Lagos airport grew impatient with the lack of information.

"I am worried because nobody is talking to me," said Samuel Ojeikedion.

A group of about 10 men and women sang prayers for missing relatives in the deserted airport building.

More than 140 people died in May 2002 when a Nigerian airliner crashed into a poor suburb in the northern city of Kano, killing people on board and on the ground. The aircraft plowed into about 10 buildings shortly after take-off.

Source: airwise.com/Reuters

Boeing To Launch Stretch 747 By Year-End

Boeing is likely to launch a stretch version of its 747 by the end of the year, a senior executive at the US aerospace group said on Friday.

Randy Baseler, vice president of marketing for commercial airplanes, said airlines had mostly expressed interest initially in a freighter version of the more efficient and larger 747. But he hoped the early orders would include at least one purchaser of the passenger version.

The aircraft will carry 450 passengers, compared with 416 on the 747-400, and will have a slightly longer range of 8,000 nautical miles. Trip costs will be 6 percent lower than the biggest 747 model so far produced, Baseler said.

Boeing had said this month that it expected an announcement on the 747 Advanced soon.

Boeing has not recently sold any passenger versions of the 747 due to a glut of aircraft accumulated during a steep recession, from which the industry rebounded sharply this year.

Baseler said the global market for large commercial jets, in which Boeing competes with Airbus, should reach a record of about 1,600 orders in 2005.

If the industry follows its normal historical pattern, the number of orders should dip in 2006, he said, adding however that deliveries were a better way of monitoring the cycle.

Baseler also spelled out differences between Boeing and Airbus on which way the airline industry is heading over the next 20 years.

Both foresee sharp growth in aircraft demand as Asian economies open up further but disagree over how the passenger growth will be shared among aircraft types.

Airbus wants its new A380 superjumbo to be catalyst for a new market for planes carrying more than 500 people between major transport hubs.

Boeing, which had monopolized the jumbo jet market until Airbus designed the A380, switched its focus to the 200 to 300 seat range, arguing that it was better to fly people directly to their destinations than to force them to change planes at regional hubs.

Baseler said Boeing targeted a market of no more than 300 planes in the segment above 450 seats, less than one-quarter of Airbus's goal of selling 1,250 of its A380 planes

Source: airwise.com/Reuters

Gate Gourmet Signs British Airways Deal

Caterer Gate Gourmet said on Thursday it had signed a new commercial agreement with British Airways, Europe's third-largest airline.

The agreement followed the resolution of a long-running staff dispute at Gate Gourmet which disrupted BA's in-flight meal service and grounded flights at London's Heathrow Airport in August.

"We are very pleased that the deal has been signed," Gate Gourmet Managing Director Eric Born said in a statement.

BA had offered to increase the value of its annual contract to Gate Gourmet by GBP£10 million (USD$17.7 million) to about GBP£140 million (USD$248.3 million), but only if the caterer's staff dispute was resolved, sources said last month.

The contract was also expected to be extended from 2008 to 2010.

The US-based caterer, which supplied more than 80,000 meals to British Airways a day, sacked staff in August after they walked off the job in protest against the hiring of temporary seasonal workers.

That triggered a sympathy strike by some British Airways workers at Heathrow, grounding flights and stranding more than 100,000 passengers during the peak summer travel season.

The dispute disrupted normal meal services on BA short-haul flights for more than two months.

Source: airwise.com/Reuters

Mexican Airlines Sale To Go Ahead

Mexico's state-owned airline holding company Cintra said the sale Aeromexico and Mexicana will take place this year as planned, in a bid to calm investors who fear only limited interest.

Cintra's President Andres Conesa said that there was a "solid" group of potential bidders interested in the airlines. "This gives us a good chance to finish (the sale) on time by the end of November," he said.

Spain's dominant airline Iberia pulled out of the bidding process last week because it said that the conditions were "not optimal."

Spanish tourism group Globalia remains in the race and has teamed up with Mexican hospital operator Grupo Angeles to prepare a possible bid for one of Cintra's airlines.

Cintra said on Tuesday it no longer plans to sell its ground services unit SEAT along with the two airlines, reversing original plans to sell the subsidiary as a separate entity.

Source: airwise.com/Reuters

European Tourism Communications should adapt to New Circumstances

The latest WTO Regional Conference on Tourism Communications (TOURCOM) highlighted the need for both 'new' and established destinations in Europe to adapt their media relations to a changing scenario in which the East is gaining tourism market share at the expense of the West and to the use of new information technology.

The conference, organised by the World Tourism Organization in cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Latvia, attracted some 180 participants from 18 countries to the Latvian capital of Riga on October 12-13.

At the opening ceremony, both the President of Latvia, Vaira Vike-Freiberga, and WTO Secretary-General Francesco Frangialli stressed the need for the tourism industry to forge a closer relationship with the media, given its important role in the image building of destinations.

Among the main issues addressed at the conference were crisis and risk communications, image building and cross-cultural communications, with a strong emphasis on branding, advertising, new information technology and development of the airline sector.

Several speakers argued that the 'new' destinations of Central and Eastern Europe needed to create and strengthen communication units at a national, regional and local level; to be more dynamic in the development of communications know-how, respond faster and be more pro-active in their relations with the press.

But traditional destinations such as Spain, Italy, France, Greece also need to adapt their communications to the new scenario "if they do not want to lose more tourists to new destinations in the East that are becoming increasingly more attractive to the media and an ever growing number of travellers," said Rok Klancnik, WTO Chief of Communications.

"The case of the 'Polish plumber' advertising campaign in France" - based on the character at the centre of the 'no vote' campaign in the French referendum on the EU constitution - "showed, that a country needn't be very rich to get a witty, inviting and successful message through to an attractive source market," said Polish Tourist Organization representative Kryzstof Turowski.

Journalists John Bell and Nick Easen recommended 'new' destinations not to try to copy others in advertising and media relations, but "be original, creative and distinct, show novelty and to focus on what is special.

Otherwise they face extinction from the tourist map. The President of the World Travel Awards, Graham Cooke, said destinations should try to provide web-information in as many languages as possible, including Spanish and Chinese.

Answering questions from delegates who argued that some, mainly western media try to impose unethical methods of promoting their destinations, Richard Baerug, marketing director of the Riga Convention Bureau said that "Companies and destinations should only deal with media that make a clear border line between advertising and journalism."

With several major terrorist attacks in the last two years and avian flu now threatening the tourism sector in Europe, destinations need to create response teams to handle crisis management and action plans. They should also "be cautious about using words such as 'safety' as a selling point or issuing categorical reassurances on safety," said WTO consultant Deborah Luhrman.

Several speakers underscored the need for communications with the media and consumers to be increasingly based on "emotions and experiences", looking beyond traditional tourism attractions to areas such as fashion and sport to promote destinations.

The Riga event concluded the WTO TOURCOM programme for 2005, following one held in Amman in September for the Middle East and North Africa. Further communications conferences are scheduled for Africa, in Abuja, Nigeria, and for the Americas in Rosario, Argentina in 2006

Source: ASIA Travel Tips .com

Hungary To Restart Airport Sale

Hungary is to reopen the tender process for the sale of a majority stake in Budapest Airport and aims to complete the deal, which attracted bids of nearly USD$2 billion in the first round, by the end of the year.

The sale is important for Hungary to meet its budget deficit target, but it had been halted by a court ruling that the State Privatization Authority had not consulted workers as required.

Since then, Budapest Airport and the unions have averted strike action and agreed a 10 percent wage increase, a three-year collective agreement and tax-free benefits.

"The government, via the finance minister, commissions the privatization agency to seek an investor for 75 percent minus one share in Budapest Airport via a tender by invitation to those five bidders who made it onto the shortlist in the previous tender," government spokesman Andras Batiz said on Wednesday.

Germany's Hochtief made the highest bid in the first round at 390 billion forints (USD$1.8 billion).

Other bidders were Frankfurt Airport operator Fraport, Britain's BAA, Denmark's Copenhagen Airports and Australia's Macquarie Airports Holdings.

All have pledged that they remain interested in the process despite the court ruling and warnings from Hungary's main opposition Fidesz party that it would renationalise the airport if it won power in elections due in spring 2006.

Source: airwise.com/Reuters

Airbus Parent To Build Part Of Boeing 787

European planemaker Airbus' parent company EADS will make a key piece of US rival Boeing's latest passenger jet, in a sign of how outsourcing can trump national pride.

Boeing supplier Vought Aircraft Industries' announcement on Monday that EADS will be a subcontractor on its work on the 787 was at first glance a surprise considering that Boeing and Airbus -- two symbols of regional industrial might -- are facing off in a trade battle.

But analysts said the news, first reported by the Seattle Times, was an inevitable consequence of an engineering-intensive industry where a handful of companies have the know-how to build the necessary specialized parts.

"Subcontracting makes for strange bedfellows," said Richard Aboulafia, an analyst with the Teal Group, adding that the move was a symptom of "greater internationalization" of manufacturing that is an inevitable consequence of globalized airliner sales.

The 787, a jet built largely of composite materials, is one of the most outsourced planes in history, including 30 percent to be built by Japanese manufacturers.

Dallas-based Vought, which will build much of the plane's rear fuselage, said it had reached price agreements with companies including EADS, which will make a rear wall known as the aft pressure bulkhead.

Vought said Boeing had not limited which companies it could hire as subcontractors.

"Apparently this is a small global supply base," said Vought spokeswoman Lynne Warne. "In most cases it's a unique capability, so it's not like you can competitively bid a lot of these processes when there are only a handful of people who can do portions of this work."

EADS-Casa, EADS' Spanish unit, already makes the rudder for Boeing's 737 as well as the flaps and ailerons on its 777, Aboulafia said. Britain's BAE Systems which owns 20 percent of Airbus to EADS' 80 percent, also makes parts of the 777.

Airbus itself plans to outsource up to 70 percent of its aircraft production abroad, Chief Executive Gustav Humbert was quoted as saying in German newspapers on Monday.

Still, Aboulafia said Airbus has often been aggressive in acquiring companies in its supply chain, moving in the opposite direction of Boeing, which earlier this year sold off a key part of its jetmaking operations in the latest such move.

Boeing and Airbus are locked in a trade dispute over what Boeing calls unfair subsidies from European governments to Airbus planes like the A350, a rival for the 787.

Airbus has said Boeing also receives subsidies in the form of defense contracts from the US government, assistance from the state of Washington and Japanese government help for Boeing partners Fuji Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

Source: airwise.com/Reuters

Emirates expands Self Check-In Service at Dubai International Airport

Emirates Airline passengers departing from Dubai International Airport now have more options for check-in, with the introduction of a new Quick Baggage Drop service and additional Self-Service Check-in Kiosks.

Passengers holding electronic or ATB2 tickets (ATB2 tickets have magnetic strips located across the back of the ticket coupon, which make them machine-readable), members of Emirates' Skywards and its partner frequent flyer programmes, can check-in, select their seats and print their own boarding passes via Emirates' self-service kiosks at the airport. Those carrying only hand-luggage can then proceed directly to immigration, while those with baggage can now check in their luggage at dedicated Quick Baggage Drop counters.

Emirates has also increased the number of self-service kiosks at Dubai International Airport from 4 to 11. There are now four kiosks located in the Economy Class check-in area, and seven in Emirates' First and Business Class check-in area.

Mohammed Mattar, Emirates' Senior Vice President for Airport Services (Dubai) said, "Emirates' Self-Service Check-in Kiosks have been very popular with business travellers since they were introduced in 2003. In the initial stages, this service was only available to those travelling with hand-baggage.

We are pleased to expand and enhance this service by adding a new Quick Baggage Drop facility that makes it possible for passengers travelling with check-in baggage to also use the self-service kiosks."

Source: ASIA Travel Tips .com

Second A380 takes to the Skies

The second Airbus A380 (MSN004) successfully took off today, joining the first A380 (MSN001) in the flight test campaign which started on 27th April. Since its first flight, MSN001 has successfully completed more than 100 flights and over 350 flight hours.

The maiden flight of the second aircraft, equipped with four Rolls Royce Trent 900 engine, took place above the region west of Toulouse and over the South West of France. The flight crew comprised experiment test pilots Peter Chandler, and Richard Monnoyer, as well as the test flight engineer Pascal Verneau, and flight test engineers Didier Ronceray and Robert Lignee.


Picture Copyright Airbus - photographer Jean Jodar

MSN004 is equipped with heavy test instrumentation and is joining the first A380 in the flight test campaign, which includes environmental trials, where it will prove full functionality of engines, systems and materials under extreme weather conditions and altitude. The hot and high campaigns and cold weather trials will take place in the first half of next year. During these latter trials, the aircraft will be exposed to up to minus 40 degrees, while assuring full functionality. electromagnetic interference (EMI) tests will also be undertaken in the first half of next year, to ascertain the resistance of the aircraft to electromagnetic fields.

Charles Champion, Chief Operating Officer and Head of the A380 Programme, said, “The tests are going better than we expected and we can already say with certitude that we will deliver a great aircraft, which will live up to the expectations of the airlines and bring a step change to air transport. I am certain that the second test aircraft will continue to show that the A380 combines technological innovation with extraordinary quality and reliability.”

With 105 flights and 366 flight hours, the first A380 (MSN001) is ahead of the test programme schedule. Already accomplished tests, including aerodynamics, low speed and flight vibration tests, show very good conformity with the data collected on flight simulators in preparation of the test flights. Airbus stated that thanks to the precision of test results, early autoland tests could start on the 17th flight, only one month after first flight.

A380 number one is now scheduled to visit Frankfurt for a first airport compatibility test at the end of this month.

In total five A380 aircraft will be involved in the flight test programme. MSN001 is mainly used for loads identification and development of flight control. MSN004 will be flying performance tests. Two additional aircraft will be equipped with full cabin installations and will undergo cabin and noise tests, as well as performing the Early Long Flights and later the Route Proving, together with further airport compatibility checks. A fifth aircraft will be used for the trials linked to the Engine Alliance GP7200 engine. The full A380 test programme represents more than 2500 flight hours.

Upon completion of the certification process the world’s largest commercial airliner will be delivered to the first operator Singapore Airlines in late 2006.

Source: ASIA Travel Tips .com

Connexion by Boeing and UTStarcom make In-flight Mobile Phone Calls a Reality

Connexion by Boeing recently concluded a week of demonstration flights in Europe that showed travelers how mobile telephony can be provided safely and conveniently for passengers in flight.

During flights aboard a Boeing 737-400 test and demonstration airplane, Connexion One, guests sampled not only the Connexion by Boeing high-speed, real-time Internet service, which now includes four channels of live TV, but also used roaming-enabled mobile phones to make and receive phone calls.

“Enabling people to make and receive phone calls during flight demonstrated the flexibility of a high-speed connectivity system like ours,” said Chris Petersen, program manager for voice and cellular service at Connexion by Boeing. “We allowed our guests to make calls to the ground while we flew over international waters, and almost everyone’s first call was to their boss. Both callers and call recipients were equally excited and impressed by the voice quality and the reliability of the connection.”

The ability to make Global Standard for Mobile (GSM) and code-division multiple-access (CDMA) calls over Connexion by Boeing’s system was made possible through Alameda, Calif.-based UTStarcom, a global leader in IP-based, end-to-end networking solutions and services. UTStarcom supplied its MovingMedia 2000 all-IP mobile network infrastructure equipment to Connexion by Boeing and also provided technical support on the ground for call switching and completion.

”Our MovingMedia 2000 product is one of the only all-IP mobile infrastructure solutions on the market today, and is designed to provide significant operational cost savings to service providers as it does not require traditional TDM transmission backhaul,” said Jack Mar, president of the CDMA/GSM division at UTStarcom, Inc. “UTStarcom’s MovingMedia 2000 network solution is compact, uses IP transport technology and is capable of working over satellite transmission medium, making it an ideal solution to offer cellular service for passengers on commercial airlines.”

Connexion by Boeing intends to enable mobile phone devices onboard commercial airplanes utilizing the existing broadband satellite link and make this available to its airline customers as early as 2006. “Enabling mobile connectivity is a natural service evolution for our system, which currently allows passengers on more than 120 flights a day to use WiFi-enabled laptops to connect to what is important to them,” said David Friedman, Connexion by Boeing vice president of marketing and direct sales. “We plan to make it available to our airline customers should they want it, once discussions between regulatory authorities and airline customers worldwide have been concluded, and the industry has come to an agreement on how to implement it in practice.”

Source: ASIA Travel Tips .com

EU Hopes For US Aviation Deal

The European Union hopes for a deal soon with the United States on how to open up the aviation industry on both sides of the Atlantic to more competition, a senior EU official said on Monday.

The two sides resumed talks in Brussels on Monday on how to revive the stalled push for a deal.

"I reopen this negotiation because this time we have to succeed," Francois Lamoureux, director-general of the European Commission's transport department, said at the beginning of the talks. "I think the political willingness is there again."

Lamoureux said he hoped a deal could be possible by the end of this year.

Source: airwise.com/Reuters

Alaska Airlines launches new Airpass for US, Mexico and Canada

Alaska Airlines has launched an extensive new airpass for travel from Alaska and the US West Coast to the Eastern USA, Western Canada and Mexico.

The latest airpass, valid for travel until 31 March, 2006, enables passengers to experience Alaska Airlines and its growing network with a minimum of two coupons.

Airpass prices start at US$119 per sector, plus tax, for direct flights between US West Coast cities, within the State of Alaska and between the West Coast and Canada.

For US$169 per sector, plus tax, passengers can travel between the West Coast and eight cities in Mexico, including the brand new Los Angeles – Mexico City route.

For US$189 per sector, plus tax, travellers can fly direct between US West Coast cities and Alaska.

And for US$299 per sector, plus tax, passengers can fly between the main Alaska airlines hub in Seattle and the east coast cities of New York / Newark, Boston, Washington DC, Miami and Orlando.

The US$299 airpass sector fare is also available for flights between Seattle and Cancun, Mexico, via Los Angeles, and between Anchorage or Fairbanks, Alaska, and Chicago.

Taxes and surcharges vary according to the route travelled, and can change without notice.

Alaska Airlines and its subsidiary Horizon Airlines operate a fleet of Boeing 737, MD-80 and Bombadier CRJ-700 twinjets to more than 80 destinations in the US, Canada and Mexico.

Source: ASIA Travel Tips .com

Airbus A380 to visit Cities in Europe, Asia Pacific and Middle East

The Airbus A380, is to visit Frankfurt in Germany for airport compatibility verification tests at the end of this month, and will fly to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in the first half of November. It will then be on display at the Dubai airshow in the second half of November.

The visits, which mark the first time that the Airbus A380 will be seen outside Europe, will give customers a chance to see the aircraft at first hand, and airports an early opportunity to check their preparedness to handle it in commercial service.

The tests at Frankfurt will include taxiing around the airport, docking at a terminal, and checking passenger boarding bridge positioning. They will also demonstrate ease of access for servicing vehicles, such as catering trucks, cargo-loaders, fuel bowsers and water servicing – both individually, and together as they would be positioned during an aircraft turnaround.

The A380 on this tour is MSN001, the first aircraft to fly and one of five taking part in the flight-test campaign. Its cabin is fitted with extensive flight-test instrumentation, measuring equipment and ballast tanks that can be filled with water to simulate the weight of a full load of passengers and cargo.

With more than 100 flights and some 350 flight-hours performed to date in an extensive flight-test programme that already shows a sound and mature design, the A380 is on track to deliver on its promises.

These include 15-20% lower operating cost per seat, wider seats for all passengers in economy class, and less environmental impact through the generation of lower emissions and only half the noise of the largest aircraft in commercial service today.

Airbus’ A380 family (A380 and A380F) has already won a strong following among many of the world’s most prestigious airlines, with 16 customers having placed orders for 159 aircraft so far. These include Singapore Airlines, which will be the first to take delivery of an A380, at the end of 2006, followed by Qantas Airways and Emirates in the second quarter of 2007.

Designed to use existing airports, the Airbus A380 takes off and lands in less distance than today’s largest airliner. While it is heavier because it carries more passengers, the Airbus A380 has more wheels to spread its weight, and thus has less impact on runways. In response to airport recommendations, the length and wingspan of the A380 have been limited to less than 80m, making it easier to integrate the world’s largest airliner into their existing facilities.

Source: ASIA Travel Tips .com

Emirates increases flights across Asia Pacific

Trade and tourism are on the upswing in the Far East and Emirates has responded to strong customer demand by reinforcing its route network - upping services and streamlining schedules to Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Jakarta.

Richard Vaughan, Emirates' Senior Vice President Commercial Operations East Asia & Australasia said, "Emirates Airline is a hot favourite amongst travellers in the Far East - in fact in the last financial year, strong customer preference meant the East Asia and Australasia region was responsible for 28% of our revenue. By increasing our services, we are providing our customers in key markets with more schedule flexibility, capacity and choice.



"Our web of connections in the Far East offer travellers speed and convenience, while travellers outbound from the region enjoy connecting to Emirates' vast network in the Middle East, Africa and Europe, and the fantastic duty free at Dubai International Airport. As the Far Eastern economies escalate, customers are increasingly relying on our wide-bodied jets to provide more belly-hold cargo payloads to ease the capacity constraints faced in these markets." Vaughan added.

Hong Kong

From 1st October, Emirates has intensified services between Dubai and Hong Kong with two additional flights every Thursday and Saturday to help travellers wrap-up their business and take advantage of the weekends in both countries. The new flights have boosted the airline's services by 17%, from 12 flights to 14 flights per week.

Jakarta

Starting end-October, Emirates will fly directly to Jakarta thrice every week - Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays - returning to Dubai via Singapore. The new direct flights enhance the airline's services to its customers in Indonesia. The city is also served four times a week by Flight EK 348, flying via Colombo and Singapore, and thrice a week by EK 346 via Kuala Lumpur.

Singapore

Emirates will add six more weekly services from Dubai to Singapore starting 30th October. The new operations represent a growth of 33%, bringing the total number of flights between the two cities to 24 per week. Currently, the airline operates 18 weekly flights from Dubai to Singapore - two direct daily flights and four via Colombo.

Singapore also serves as Emirates' gateway to Melbourne, Brisbane and Auckland, weaving a web of convenient connections across the Asia-Pacific region. In total Emirates will serve Singapore with 42 services per week, up from the current 36.

Kuala Lumpur

From end-October, Emirates will offer five weekly direct services to Kuala Lumpur in addition to three flights via Singapore. The new schedule means that the airline will serve Kuala Lumpur with a total of eight weekly flights.

Bangkok

From early November, Emirates will add one more direct flight from Dubai to Bangkok - instead of Wednesdays, flight EK 372 will now fly on Thursdays and Saturdays - serving the city with a total of 19 flights a week.

In addition to these five destinations, Emirates also serves Shanghai, Seoul, Osaka, Manila and Taipei (cargo only) - a total of 10 destinations in the Far East. In February 2006, the airline will launch daily services to Beijing, the airline's second destination in China.

Details on Additional Flights

Dubai-Hong Kong-Dubai

Flight EK 380 is operated with an Airbus A330-200 offering 12 First, 42 Business and 183 Economy Class seats and 17 tonnes of belly-hold capacity.

Flight Timings: Operating on Monday, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, EK 380 departs Dubai at 03:05 hrs and arrives in Hong Kong at 15:10 hours.

Dubai-Jakarta-Singapore-Dubai

Flight EK 344 will be served by an A330-200 offering 27 Business and 251 Economy Class seats, and capable of carrying 14 tonnes of cargo.

Flight Timings: Operating on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, Flight EK 344 departs Dubai at 09:10 hours, reaches Jakarta at 20:30 hours, and later Singapore at 00:20 the next day. The flight arrives in Dubai at 05:15.

Dubai-Singapore-Kuala Lumpur-Dubai

Flight EK 352 will be served by an A330-200 offering 27 Business and 251 Economy Class seats, and capable of carrying 14 tonnes of cargo.

Flight Timings: Operating on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays EK 352 will depart Dubai 09:20 and arrive in Singapore at 20:45 and later at Kuala Lumpur at 23:05. It departs the next day to reach Dubai at 03:45.

Dubai-Kuala Lumpur-Dubai

Flight EK 342 will be served by an A330-200 in a two class configuration offering 27 Business and 251 Economy Class seats and capable of carrying 14 tonnes of cargo.

Flight Timings: Operating on Mondays and Thursdays, EK 342 will depart Dubai at 09:10, reach Kuala Lumpur at 19:55, and return at 01:30 next morning to reach Dubai at 04:45.

Dubai-Bangkok-Dubai

EK 372 will be served by an A330-200 offering 27 Business and 251 Economy Class seats, and capable of carrying 14 tonnes of cargo.

Flight Timings: Operating on Thursdays and Saturdays, EK 372 departs Dubai at 09:25 and arrives in Bangkok at 18:25, turns around at 20:15 and arrives in Dubai at 00:15 the next day.

Source: ASIA Travel Tips .com

Japan Airlines Aid for Pakistan Earthquake Relief

Japan Airlines is to provide free cargo shipments of relief goods for earthquake aid in Pakistan from Japanese government agencies, local governments in Japan and public organizations, such as the Japanese Red Cross.

JAL does not fly to any destinations in Pakistan but will carry relief goods and materials from airports in Japan to destinations on the JAL overseas network in the Asia region such as Singapore, Bangkok and Delhi, as requested by the agencies concerned.

JAL will also provide free air transport on the JAL network for staff of public organizations, such as the Japanese Red Cross and official Japanese aid organizations that the airline has worked with in the past, until further notice.

Details on shipping procedures are available from JAL offices in Japan. These arrangements apply to relief goods and materials sent from Japan only.

Source: ASIA Travel Tips .com

Jet Airways offers 'Web Check-in' Facility across India

India's Jet Airways is to offer an online facility of Web Check-in to its passengers across India.

This specialised Web Check-in facility is currently available for passengers holding a confirmed and valid E-ticket, anytime between 48 hours and 60 minutes prior to their flight departure, in 29 of the airline’s destinations across India. E-tickets can be issued through travel agents, Jet Airways portal, Jet Airways airport and city offices.

This new initiative allows customers to not only select their preferred seat but also to print their boarding pass for their same day return flight on.

Peter Luethi, Chief Operating Officer, Jet Airways (India) Limited said, “Jet Airways further strengthens its commitment for the growth of the Indian Aviation industry through a new emerging technology. This newly-launched Web Check-in facility provides yet another step towards a seamless and hassle free air travel experience.”

The Web Check-in application has been developed by Sabre Airline Solution, a leading airline solutions provider based in the United States.

Source: ASIA Travel Tips .com

Singapore Airlines and Tourism Australia sign A$12 million MoU

Singapore Airlines and Tourism Australia signed a A$12 million (S$15.5m) three year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Monday, designed to market Australia as an attractive tourist destination. The commitment in this MoU is in addition to the existing commitments by Singapore Airlines toward promoting Australia in overseas markets, which come to almost S$10m a year.

Over the next three years, a co-operative joint marketing campaign will encourage tourists from across the world to visit Australia. The campaign will focus on many of the international markets currently served by Singapore Airlines, especially in Europe and Asia.

“Australia is globally recognised as a major tourist destination and we are pleased to be continuing our partnership with Tourism Australia to work together to encourage tourists to come here,” said Singapore Airlines Chief Executive Officer, Chew Choon Seng.

“Our extensive reach into important markets for Australian tourism, such as China, Japan, Germany, Korea and India, as well as Singapore itself will assist both of us to increase visitor numbers to Australia.”

The Memorandum of Understanding continues a formal relationship that has delivered tourism benefits to Australia for more than six years, and co-operatively for many years before that.

In addition, Singapore Airlines has committed to embark on another promotional campaign to encourage Americans to visit Australia if granted access to the Transpacific route from Sydney to Los Angeles.

“Singapore Airlines is looking forward to the outcome of the Australian Government’s aviation review and we hope to be given approval to fly from Australia to America in the near future. We are prepared to complement the commitment in this MoU with a sustained multi-million dollar promotional programme aiming to increase visitor numbers to Australia from North America,” said Mr Chew.

Singapore Airlines has provided a study from economic researchers, Econtech, that estimates the Australian tourism industry will benefit by at least A$126 million (S$161m) each year from the increased visitor numbers if there is more competition on the Transpacific route.

Source: ASIA Travel Tips .com

Qatar Airways set to launch Madrid flights on 2 December 2005

Qatar Airways is preparing for its first move into Spanish territory with the launch of flights to Madrid, beginning on December 2.

Qatar Airways will fly to Madrid three-times-a-week with a widebody Airbus A300-600 aircraft in a two-class configuration of 18 seats in Business Class and 232 in Economy. All flights will operate into Madrid’s Barajas International Airport via Rome.

As part of its foray into the Spanish market, Qatar Airways will be offering members of its Privilege Club frequent flyer programme double Qmiles for the first month of the Madrid service.

Madrid is geographically located in the centre of Spain and is the country’s economic, financial and political hub. The dynamic city enjoys a cosmopolitan lifestyle with a rich heritage and is the gateway to the San Lorenzo de El Escorial Monastery, one of the eight wonders of the world.

Source: ASIA Travel Tips .com

LAN Airlines orders up to 40 A320 Family aircraft

LAN Airlines has signed a contract with Airbus for the acquisition of 25 A320 Family aircraft plus 15 options. This order confirms LAN's previous announcement of June 2005 and brings their total orders for Airbus aircraft to 59. Deliveries of the newly ordered aircraft are scheduled to begin in 2006. A part of the additional new A318s and A319s will gradually replace LAN's 737-200 fleet.

With this contract LAN becomes the first customer for the A318 powered by the new Pratt & Whitney's PW6000 engine. The PW 6000 engine is due for certification by the end of this year.

The additional A319s and A320s will be powered by the V2500-A5 engine from International Aero Engines.

These new aircraft will be put into service on LAN’s domestic network in Peru, Chile and Argentina.

Source: ASIA Travel Tips .com

Britain Rejects Air Travel Levy

The British government said on Monday it would not implement a suggested GBP£1 (USD$1.76) levy on all air passengers leaving the UK.

Britain's Civil Aviation Authority had put forward the plan to fund protection for travelers if their airline went bust.

"The government has decided not to implement the Civil Aviation Authority's recommendation for a one pound levy," the Department for Transport said in a written statement. "The attractions of the CAA scheme are outweighed by the disadvantages," it said.

The department said it did not believe a compulsory scheme was appropriate, adding that the government did not organize refund schemes for other industries such as retail, building or financial services.

Airlines, which had criticized the levy as unnecessary and said it would have raised ticket prices, welcomed the decision.

"We are pleased that the government has made this decision as there is no justification or need for our customers to pay this cost," a British Airways spokeswoman said.

Low-cost carrier easyJet earlier said the levy would have created a GBP£250 million (USD$438.9 million) fund within three years, well out of proportion to what would be needed to compensate passengers.

Chief Executive Ray Webster said commercial insurance and voluntary codes of conduct provided passengers with adequate protection.

Source: Reuters

EasyJet Wants More Fuel Cover, No Acquisitions

British low-cost airline easyJet is reviewing its fuel hedges amid soaring oil prices and has ruled out for now buying other carriers in order to expand its operations in Europe.

Chief Executive Ray Webster, who retires in December, said on Monday he was unhappy with easyJet's current exposure to high fuel prices.

"We have not got as much hedging as we would like. We are still working on it," Webster said, adding any change would not be announced until November.

EasyJet said in May it had limited cover on fuel in the six months ending September and hoped to increase its cover in the next financial year. Record oil prices are hurting most global airlines.

Webster also said the airline would continue to expand in Europe next year as it takes delivery of new aircraft but had no plans to acquire other carriers.

"There are no businesses out there we would find attractive targets. There is no market in Europe we can't naturally develop if we put our mind to it," Webster said.

Webster said he still expected major consolidation in Europe as smaller no-frills airlines struggle to survive, but said there would be no repeat of its 2002 acquisition of rival Go.

Webster will be replaced by Andrew Harrison, the former boss of UK motor services firm RAC, in December but plans to continue advising the company's board on long-term strategy for another year.

Webster, who has been in the top job since the airline was founded 10 years ago, said he was working on several non-core projects yet to be announced.

EasyJet was at a "pretty advanced stage" in selecting a new commercial director following the departure of Mike Cooper earlier this year, he said.

Webster said a main focus for easyJet next year was its fleet rationalization program. The company is retiring some of its Boeing 737-300 planes and taking delivery of new aircraft.

"Next year is going to be a very busy year for us. Next year the remainder of our 737 fleet, bar three aircraft, will be phased out," Webster said.

"We will be very active in managing the fleet."

EasyJet said last week it expected current year earnings to be broadly in line with last year. Cost cuts and improved revenues from higher ticket prices and demand for travel are helping easyJet offset higher fuel prices.

Webster dismissed suggestions by rival Ryanair that there would eventually be no room for easyJet in Europe's crowded airline market.

The market of around 60 low-cost European carriers would eventually shrink to two main players and a handful of second-tier carriers filling niche markets, Webster predicted.

Source: Reuters

FAA Wants More Focus On Aircraft Wiring

US aviation regulators want the industry to pay closer attention to aircraft wiring that could pose risks for electrical failure and fire, especially on older planes.

The Federal Aviation Administration last week proposed new maintenance, inspection and design standards that would require airlines and manufacturers to analyze aircraft wiring with the aim of making it more fire resistant and easier to pinpoint and correct problems.

Although aircraft design standards are rigorous, wiring is generally considered part of the components they power, like engines or cockpit controls. Maintenance inspections have never given wiring special attention as a separate system.

Current inspection requirements are too general and there is too little attention paid to the impact of how wiring modifications on one part of a plane might affect other parts of the same aircraft, the FAA said.

The new regulation, if adopted, would allow airlines to do more work on wiring at fewer intervals.

"There will be more efficient planning of maintenance programs and less down time for aircraft," said FAA spokesman Hank Price. "Instead of doing it (piecemeal) everyone will come under one umbrella."

The agency estimated the cost of the new program at USD$474 million over 25 years. But it said airlines should save nearly USD$800 million from retooled maintenance procedures and improved safety.

Between 1995-2002, there were nearly 400 aircraft wiring failures, the FAA said. Loose, chafed and broken wires account for roughly 84 percent of all wiring problems.

Damaged wiring can be a fire hazard, while engine oil, hydraulic fluids, galley spills and bathroom fluids can coat wire bundles, making them grimy and attracting dust.

Wiring prompted fresh concern after the 1996 TWA Flight 800 explosion. Investigators believe sparks triggered by a wiring failure ignited vapors in the jumbo jet's center fuel tank. The plane broke apart over the Atlantic off New York, killing all 230 passengers and crew.

Two years later, Swissair Flight 111 crashed off Nova Scotia due to a fire. While investigators never determined an exact cause, suspicion centered on an electric cable.

The disasters spawned safety initiatives, including fuel tank modifications. But post-crash analyses revealed wiring problems may not always be tied to age. They can also be linked to installation and maintenance shortcomings.

Source: Reuters

Airbus launches new A350 Aircraft

In a move to compete with Boeing's Dreamliner and following approval by its shareholders, EADS and BAE Systems, Airbus has formally launched the new passenger long-range A350 aircraft, for which it has already received 140 firm order commitments from nine customers.

Airbus President and CEO Gustav Humbert, emphasized the significance of the industrial launch of the A350, saying, “The A350 pursues the success story of the earlier Airbus types in an impressive manner by continuing to set the highest standards in term of aircraft design and innovation for the benefit of customers and operators. This new aircraft enlarges the Airbus family and gives us the ability to respond to all long-range market needs, with the A380 for hub to hub, the A340 for the ultra long-range, and the A330 and now the new A350 for medium to very long-ranges, while offering unequalled operational efficiency and passenger comfort”.

The A350 will be produced and assembled at the same facilities as the A330 and the A340, with however, additional risk-sharing partners and associates in China, Russia and other countries around the world. The market for aircraft in this size category is estimated at 3,300, including freighters, over the next 20 years, of which Airbus expects to obtain half.

Planned to enter service in 2010, the A350 Family will initially include two members. The A350-800 will carry 253 passengers in a standard three-class configuration up to 8,800nm/16,300km. Its larger sister, the A350-900, will accommodate as many as 300 passengers in a comparable three-class layout up to 7,500nm/13,900km. These new aircraft share the technologically advanced innovations of the A380 and are also endowed with the latest technologies, while benefiting from the Airbus family commonality. The A350 will initially be powered by General Electric’s new generation GEnx 1A engine. An agreement with Rolls Royce has also been signed to supply a new variant of its Trent engine series for the A350, the Trent 1711.

The new A350 features a new composite wing and a fuselage made of aluminium lithium, which combined give the aircraft 60% advanced materials. With a new landing gear, over 90% new manufacturing part numbers, and a new redesigned cabin for even more passenger comfort, the A350 will be a new aircraft. Airbus says it will have 30 more seats, 12 to 14% more capacity, and offers 8% lower cost per seat with a 300 nm (555 km) greater range than its nearest competitor.

To further reduce operating costs and minimize introduction costs, the A350 retains operational commonality with current Airbus long-range products, allowing this new aircraft to benefit from the “Family effect”, complementing the A340 and the A330 with which it shares the same pilot type rating.

An all-new cabin has also been designed to further enhance passenger comfort during long-range flights. Thanks to an increased shoulder clearance, passengers will have more room to move, while benefiting from better stowage capacity. Meanwhile, a new air conditioning system has been designed to match individual airline layouts and day-to-day passenger load factors.

Airbus A350 Firm Order Commitments

Air Europa 10
Alafco 12
CIT 5
Gecas 10
Kingfisher Airlines 5
Qatar Airways 60
TAM 8
US Airways 20
Unannounced 10

Total 140 commitments from 9 Customers

Source: ASIA Travel Tips .com

Austrian Airlines opts for Boeing 777-200ER

Austrian Airlines has signed an order for the purchase of one Boeing 777-200ER.

Austrian Airlines already operates three 777s on routes to Melbourne via Singapore and Sydney via Kuala Lumpur. Its fourth 777 will be used primarily for flights to the U.S. and Asia.

The airplane is valued at $181 million at list prices and is currently scheduled for delivery in late 2006. The agreement includes the cancellation of a previous order by Austrian Airlines for a 737.

"The 777 has proven to be a most economical and reliable aircraft and one that is well liked by our passengers," said Austrian Airlines Chief Financial Officer Thomas Kleibl. "Standardizing with the 777-200ER will deliver immediate economic and operational benefits and help keep our fleet amongst the youngest in the world."

Austrian Airlines' 777s are powered by General Electric GE90-series engines

Source: ASIA Travel Tips .com

Jet Airways increases fares in India by 10%

India's Jet Airways is to increase its domestic fares by 10% on all its routes within India effective 14th October 2005.

Commenting on the fare increase Mr. Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, Chief Executive Officer, Jet Airways (India) Ltd said, “This increase in airfares has been necessitated due to the steep increase in the cost of aviation turbine fuel (ATF) in recent months.”

In addition to an increase in the normal economy and business class INR fares, there will be a proportionate increase in other fare levels such as promotional, excursion and check fares.

Tickets issued on, or reissued on or after 14th October 2005, will be at the revised fare irrespective of the dates of travel. Confirmed tickets issued on, or before 13th October 2005, will be honoured for travel at the pre-revised fares for the ticketed itinerary only within the validity of the ticket.

Source: ASIA Travel Tips .com

Tiger Airways Secures Funding for First Four New Aircraft

Singapore-based low cost airline, Tiger Airways, has secured full funding for the first of its four new Airbus A320 aircraft from the Aviation Capital arm of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).

These additional four aircraft, which will be delivered during 2006 and 2007, are part of the recently announced order by Tiger Airways for a total of eight new A320 aircraft from Airbus which have a combined list price of over US $500m. This aircraft order will enable Tiger Airways to treble its fleet from the current four aircraft by the end of 2007 and enable the airline to fly between 4 and 5 million passengers a year.

“Royal Bank of Scotland is one of the top ten banks in the world and we are delighted that Tiger Airways has been able to establish such a strong relationship. I am confident that this transaction will represent the start of a long and mutually beneficial association between the Airline and RBS.

Having started with only two Airbus A320 aircraft in September last year, Tiger Airways has grown and will continue to grow as one of the world’s leading low fare airlines. This expansion to our fleet, represents our continued commitment to offer our customers across the region with even more travel opportunities and the lowest possible fares” said Tony Davis, CEO of Tiger Airways.

RBS will provide the financing on a sale and lease back basis which involves the airline selling the four aircraft to the bank and leasing them back on long term operating leases.

Tiger Airways currently flies to 10 cities in six countries (Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Macau SAR, the Philippines and Indonesia). Flights to Krabi, Thailand, Tiger Airways’ 11th destination, will commence on 7 October 2005 while pan-regional flights between Macau and Manila (Clark) will commence on 30 October 2005

Source: ASIA Travel Tips .com

Japan Airlines to launch Innovative Maintenance Solution from Boeing

Japan Airlines (JAL) has become the first licensed customer of Boeing's Maintenance Performance Toolbox, an innovative set of performance-enhancing solutions for aircraft maintenance and troubleshooting.

Accessible via an Internet browser as a secured, hosted service, the "Maintenance Toolbox" is a key component within Boeing's evolving portfolio of performance-enhancing solutions for aircraft maintenance. Under the new agreement, JAL has access to the Structures Tool within Maintenance Toolbox.

Maintenance Toolbox uses intelligent documents and visual navigation methods to help technical operations staff troubleshoot airplane systems and manage structural repair records, parts, and task cards. The Structures Tool provides 3D models for recording, viewing, and analyzing structural repairs, making use of accumulated repair knowledge, and maintaining records of repair activities for multiple fleet types. It also includes a repair history database of records that includes details of repairs and repair locations on one or more aircraft. Users can search the database for information about repairs performed in specific areas of the airplane, search for similar repairs on other airplanes in their fleet, and enter/edit/delete repair records.

Mr. Hideo Hiramoto, vice president of the engineering department at JAL, said, "We are very pleased to be the launch customer for the Structures Tool of the Maintenance Performance Toolbox because we are the development partner for this innovative product. We are excited with the completion of the project, as we know it will help us to accomplish more reliable maintenance operations."

Boeing provides secure hosting for all of JAL's data and reliable access to the user interface of the Structures Tool through MyBoeingFleet.com. Engineers need only a computer – a laptop, desktop or pen tablet – and an Internet connection to access the system.

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Source: ASIA Travel Tips .com

Ryanair adds Nine Boeing Next-Generation 737s to Order Book

Ryanair has ordered an additional nine new Next-Generation 737-800s, exercising options from a previous agreement. The deal is valued at upwards of $500 million at list prices.

Five airplanes will be for the replacement of 737-800s in Ryanair's current fleet delivered in 1999 and four will be used to accommodate the airline's continued growth into new markets. Deliveries will begin in September 2007.

Ryanair operates 92 Boeing Next-Generation and Classic 737s. With today's announcement, it now has 239 737s on firm order with an additional 179 options.

The new 737-800s will be fitted with Blended Winglets, which will improve fuel efficiency by up to three percent on Ryanair's network, increase range and reduce takeoff noise

Source: ASIA Travel Tips .com

Bali Tourism Ready to Fight Back

The Indonesian Ministry of Culture and Tourism has vowed that the recent tragedy which hit Bali on October 1st will not undermine the governments determination to fight any form of terrorism, to assure the prosperity of Indonesian people through tourism and to implement all the necessary measures to make Indonesia a destination safe and open to all visitors. On October 4th, prior to the start of the Ramadan as well as the religious Balinese festival of Galungan, some 200 Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Buddhists gathered to reaffirm their common determination to fight all forms of extremism and terrorism and promote peace.

The explosion of three bombs in the island of Bali is a tragedy for all Indonesians as well as for many around the world. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism expressed its most sincere condolences to all families and people who lost some relatives or friends on October 1st. The Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik as well as the Director General for Tourism in charge of marketing Thamrin Bachri extended their gratitude to all governments who expressed their support to Indonesia.

“We hope that visitors will continue to provide their support to us by still visiting Bali and Indonesia” said Jero Wacik.

Up to the date of October 5th, the Bali tourism trade recorded only limited cancellation from visitors. There has also been no cancellation from any of the airlines flying to Bali. According to the Bali Hotels Association, it is “business as usual” with a minimal amount of people leaving the island following the tragedy. Hotels did not experience mass exodus like in the previous tragedy of October 2002 but expect however some cancellations over the next few weeks. In 2003, tourist arrivals declined by 23% following the October attack.

Tightened security

The government had already reinforced over the last year security measures not only in Jakarta but also in all big cities and tourist areas around the country. Additional security measures are currently being discussed and should be announced before the end of the year. Tightened security at airports, hotels, shopping centres as well as main tourist areas already exist for over three years but will further be reinforced and extended to more areas in the country. Proactive security measures have also been in place in all Bali Hotels Association members since October 2002.

The three bombs damaged a limited part of Kuta as well as two areas around Jimbaran beach. Bali is a large island and outside the Kuta and Jimbaran areas, life is fully normal. “Some groups of tourists have been relocated in fact to other areas like Nusa Dua, Klung Klung, Ubud or Menjangan resort island. The rest of Indonesia has also not been affected and is still open for tourism”, explained Thamrin Bachri, Director General for Marketing at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Jero Wacik, Indonesia’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, is touring the island with a group of 60 international and domestic media representatives to show that life still goes on. The group will participate in the religious ceremonies marking the start of the Galungan holiday.

Bali, number one destination in Indonesia

With the explosion of three bombs in Bali, terrorists once again targeted one of Indonesia’s most precious cultural and tourism assets. Bali is in fact Indonesia’s premium destination as it received in 2004 over 1.52 million visitors on a total of 5.32 million for the whole country. 2004 was then an absolute record for the island which surpassed by 3.2% its previous best performance of 2000. Bali visitors’ market share represented last year 28.66% of all arrivals to Indonesia, far ahead of Jakarta which had a market share of 18.88%. If guests in commercial accommodation are only considered, Bali has an even greater market share at 43% of all foreign arrivals to the country.

The Asia Pacific region generated 799,408 visitors – 52.38% of all Bali arrivals. The four leading source countries for Bali tourist arrivals were Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Australia. Japanese arrivals remained the largest inbound market for Bali with 326,104 visitors. ASEAN travellers topped 144,373 last year. European visitors had a share of 22.88% or 349,113 arrivals.

From January to July 2005, Bali was on the way to achieve its best year so far. The island recorded 887,450 international visitors, a growth of almost 7%. Hoteliers were also reporting healthy occupancy rates on the island with hotels looking to achieve between 80 and 90% for the coming high season.

Tourism is essential to Bali economy

Tourism is vital for the island’s economy which lacks major natural resources such as in neighbouring Java or Kalimantan. Tourism employs 1.3 million Balinese from a total population of 3.3 million. Foreign exchange earnings from tourism in Bali represent on average over 25% of the total national foreign exchanges earnings from the sector. In 2004, these revenues amounted to approximately US$ 1.2 billion

Source: ASIA Travel Tips .com

First 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighter Flight Test Program Begins with Flight from Xiamen to Hong Kong

Boeing and launch customer Cathay Pacific celebrated the arrival in Hong Kong of the first Boeing 747-400 passenger airplane to be converted to a freighter as part of the 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighter program.

The prototype airplane was flown from Xiamen, People's Republic of China - where the modification was performed and certification ground testing was started - to Hong Kong, where the flight test and certification will be completed over the next few months.

“The start of flight testing for the first 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighter is another in a long series of accomplishments achieved by our employees, our suppliers and our customer, Cathay Pacific,” said Lou Mancini, vice president and general manager for Boeing Commercial Aviation Services.

This is the first time Boeing has conducted a major flight test program outside the United States. It will be done by a Boeing flight test crew on site in Hong Kong in cooperation with Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific, along with HAECO and TAECO, aircraft maintenance and engineering companies based in Hong Kong and Xiamen respectively. The Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department is assisting.

The Boeing flight test crew plans to accumulate up to 200 hours of in-flight testing, which includes a prescribed and rigorous routine of scenarios that will certify the airplane's fire detection and suppression systems. The 747-400BCF is the first major Boeing program to be certified in accordance with the new U.S. Federal Aviation Authority Changed Product Rule.

Redelivery to Cathay Pacific Airways is scheduled for December.

Source: ASIA Travel Tips .com