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Showing posts from 2020

COVID-19 : Virgin Atlantic Delays Flight Resumption Till August

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Getty Images Virgin Atlantic has said it would not resume flight operations until August due to the government’s new mandatory self-isolation regulations for travellers entering the UK. According to  Evening Standard ,  the airline stated that the government's introduction of a mandatory 14-day self-isolation for every single traveller entering the UK will prevent flights from resuming. "We are continually reviewing our flying programme and with these restrictions, there simply won’t be sufficient demand to resume passenger services before August at the earliest” The British government announced that travellers could face fines of up to £1,000 if they fail to self-isolate for 14 days after arriving in the UK. This new measure is aimed at preventing a second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Visitors who enter the UK will be required to provide their contact details, while health officials will be performing spot checks to ensure compliance. The airline called for

Emirates Offers Limited Passenger Flight to Lagos and other Destinations

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emirates boeing777. Photo credit:  https://www.emirates.com/ Emirates has announced plans to operate limited passenger services to select destinations to facilitate residents and visitors wishing to return home. Emirates emphasized that only “citizens of the destination countries and those who meet the entry requirements of the destination will be allowed to board. Customers will be required to follow all health and safety measures required by the UAE authorities and the country of destination”. The destinations are Frankfurt; scheduled for 25 th , 27 th  and 29 th April, Jakarta on 26 th April, Johannesburg 25 th  April, Lagos,26 th  April, London Heathrow, 23rd, 24 th , 26 th , 28 th, 30 th April, Madrid, 29 th April, Manila,24 th , 28 th, and 30 th April while Tunis is scheduled for 30 th  April.  The airline stated that passengers wishing to travel to Johannesburg, Lagos, and Tunis must contact the South African Embassy, Nigerian Embassy, and the Embassy of Tunisia

China Sees Slow Recovery in Air Passenger Traffic

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China's aviation regulator has said its daily transported air passenger numbers rose by 7.9%, as of April 21, from March, but was only at 29% of the level seen the same period in 2019. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said the country's number of daily flights rose only by 1% in April to 6,586, amounting to just 42% of daily flights before the coronavirus struck. According to reports,  Chinese airlines are rolling out a series of deals to attract travelers ahead of  Labour Day on May 1 -- the first major holiday since the nation came to a standstill due to COVID-19. China Southern Airlines. Photo credit:airlinequality.com The sector which recorded a loss of RMB39.8 billion (US$5.6 billion) in the first quarter of 2020, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China is on its way to recovery as lockdown measures ease. The outbreak of COVID-19 paralysed the global tourism sector with most airlines suspending scheduled commercial flights.

Corona Virus: Death Toll Hits 170, BA Suspends Flights for One Month

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Share photo credit:  https://mediacentre.britishairways.com/ According to Reuters,   British Airways said today (Thursday) that all its flights to mainland China had been cancelled for a month due to the outbreak of a new coronavirus there. A  spokeswoman of the airline said all flights to Beijing and Shanghai had been suspended till end-February, but flights to Hong Kong were not affected. Hundreds of foreign evacuees from the Chinese city of Wuhan have been quarantined as deaths from the virus rose to 170.

Emirates to Commence Penang Flight from April 9 2020

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Emirates Business Class Lounge Children Area photo credit Emirates has announced its plan to launch a new daily service from Dubai (DXB) to Penang International Airport (PEN), via Singapore (SIN), from 9 April 2020. Penang will become Emirates’ second destination in Malaysia after its capital, Kuala Lumpur, which the airline has been operating since 1996. The flight will be operated by an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in a three-class configuration, offering eight private suites in First Class, 42 lie-flat seats in Business Class and 304 spacious seats in Economy Class. The new route enables travellers from the Northern cities of Malaysia to enjoy convenient onward connections from Dubai to destinations in Europe, North America, and the Middle East.  According to Emirates, the new service will also enable Emirates SkyCargo, the cargo division of Emirates, to offer up to 15 tonnes of cargo capacity on the flight, giving Malaysian businesses the opportunity to incre

Qatar Airways to Host Second CAPA Summit

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photo credit: google.com Share Qatar Airways will host the second edition of CAPA (Centre for Aviation) summit from 5-6 February 2020, to discuss the latest issues and developments regarding international aviation regulation. The airline will host senior aviation decision-makers from across the public and private sectors. CAPA Chairman Emeritus, Peter Harbison said: “With vastly different aviation regulations across the globe, it is essential that we continue an open dialogue on the issues and opportunities that come with open skies and market access. We are pleased to partner with Qatar Airways again this year to provide this high-level platform of discussion for senior decision-makers across the industry to engage and learn from each other.” Key industry figures billed to speak at the event include Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, H.E. Mr. Akbar Al Baker; IAG CEO, Mr. Willie Walsh; Coordinator for Transport and Tourism in European Parliament, Mr.   José Ramón Ba

New Boeing 777X Completes First Flight Successfully

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The new Boeing 777X jetliner took has successfully completed its first flight; entering the next phase of what the firm calls a rigorous test program.  Boeing said it expects to deliver the first 777X in 2021. The program has reportedly received  340 orders and commitments from leading carriers around the world, including ANA, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways and Singapore Airlines. Since its launch in 2013, the 777X family has outsold the competition nearly 2 to 1. Boeing 777X Photo credit: https://boeing.mediaroom.com According to Boeing, the new 777X was based on the popular 777 and with proven technologies from the 787 Dreamliner. The flight took off  at Paine Field in Everett, Washington, at 10:09 a.m. US time for a three hour, 51 minute flight over Washington state before landing at Seattle's Boeing Field. "The 777X flew beautifully, and today's testing was very productive," said Capt. Van Chan

Turkish Airlines’ Anadolujet Launches International Flights

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photo credit:  https://www.turkishairlines.com Turkish Airlines’ AnadoluJet brand is scheduled to commence International flight operations on March 29 from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport. Founded in 2008, AnadoluJet has been operating domestic flights within. AnadoluJet which is a subsidiary of Turkish Airlines will add international flights covering 26 destinations in 16 countries to its routes in Turkey.  The new destinations are Ercan, Amsterdam, Kuwait, Barcelona, Dubai, Berlin, Baghdad, Brussels, Bahreyn, Dusseldorf, Baku Frankfurt, Jeddah, London, Erbil, Milan, Riyadh, Munich, Tehran, Stuttgart, Tel Aviv, Paris, Tibilisi, Rome, Damman, Vienna, Abu Dhabi, and Medina.         AnadoluJet is a low- cost airline with its aircraft consisting of solely economy class to increase passenger capacity offering services to more customers at a lower cost. Turkish Airlines said it will handle the whole operational processes of the airline such as the ground services and technical mai

Emirates Celebrates Chinese Lunar New Year with Special Meals

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Emirates First Class Lounge. photo credit: www.emirates.com Travellers flying with Emirates to and from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia & Vietnam are in for a treat this Lunar New Year. Emirates has revealed that “a specially curated selection of festive goodies and traditional Chinese fare will be available onboard, as well as on ground at select Emirates airport lounges for a limited time only”. From 23-26 January, First Class and Business Class travellers heading to or from China, Singapore and Malaysia will each receive a custom Emirates red packet with two chocolate gold coins inside, symbolising a year of good fortune and blessings. The red packets for First Class travellers will be included in the goodie basket while those in Business Class will receive the red packets with their lunch or dinner. In addition to the regionally inspired cuisine served on board, passengers travelling to and from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia & Vietna

Emirates Announces Support for Bushfire Relief in Australia

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photo credit: google Emirates airline has announced it will be donating 10% of all ‘EmiratesRED’ sales on every flight from 17 January until 16 February 2020 contributions to support bushfire relief in Australia. The proceeds will go towards the recovery and rebuilding efforts taking place in the communities affected across Australia. EmiratesRED is the airline’s retail inflight duty-free shop. In addition to fundraising, Emirates said it has been waiving flight change fees for Australian residents who have been affected by the bushfires across the country. The waiver will apply to all residents travelling to or from Australia. Those affected by the bushfires, and who would like more information on how to change their travel booked on Emirates, are encouraged to visit the Emirates website. “We are deeply saddened by the bushfires in Australia and the impact they have had on families, communities, wildlife, and businesses across the country. There’s been an outpouring of support

Qatar Airways Partners Local Charity to Redistribute Surplus Food and Beverages

Qatar Aircraft Catering Company (QACC), a subsidiary of Qatar Airways has announced it is collaborating with local Qatari charity, Hifz Al Naema, to redistribute surplus food and beverages to good causes in Qatar. According to a press release published by Qatar Airways, QACC and Hifz Al Naema, expect to redistribute 200-300kg of food and beverage  such as whole fruits, cereals, soft drinks, yoghurt and chocolates daily.    QACC Senior Vice President, Mr. Michael Winner, said: “We are delighted to partner with Hifz Al Naema, a local Qatari charity that specializes in repackaging and redistributing surplus food and beverage. At QACC, we are continuously looking at ways to reduce waste and ensure an optimal food and beverage service to all our clients. This partnership ensures any unserved meals or unopened items will be redistributed to support those in need in our local community and reduce wastage at landfills.” Hifz Al Naema Public Relations Officer, Mr Youssef Al-Khulaifi, s