Latest News
June 28: Virgin Atlantic has released two new apps for worldwide use. The first, Jet Lag Fighter, is an iPhone and iPod touch app developed to help travellers overcome the effects of jet lag.
The second, Virgin Atlantic Flight Tracker, will track in real-time the location of each of the airline’s aircraft around the globe and retrieve the latest arrival and departure information as well as flying club information. For the jet lag app, Virgin teamed up with Mental Workout, a leading developer of mobile and web-based apps, and Dr. Chris Idzikowski, a world-renowned jet lag and sleep expert.
www.virgin-atlantic.com
June 28: Wataniya Airways, Kuwait’s new premium service airline, has awarded Air Caterer Five Star with the catering contract for its 3x weekly flights out of Vienna to Kuwait.
The airline uses an Airbus A320 with 26 First class and 96 Premium Economy seats. Passengers in both classes will receive a hot meal and a snack service from Air Caterer Five Star’s halal kitchen. The menu includes Arabic and Austrian specialities. The service started on June 2.
www.fivestar.at
June 28: Quantum, the new lightweight trolley jointly developed by LSG Sky Chefs and Norduyn, won a Crystal Cabin Award 2010 at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg in May. A judging panel consisting of international aviation experts, including engineers, corporate executives, scientists and airline representatives, chose the winners from a total of 64 entries from 13 countries.
www.lsgskychefs.com
June 28:Lufthansa will deploy the Panasonic eX2 IFEC system on its new flagship Airbus A380 aircraft. In all classes, the system will provide a wide variety of audio and video on demand (AVOD) selections including the latest feature films in up to eight languages, TV series, international radio channels, CDs, games, flight and connecting gate information, all displayed on in-seat monitors.
www.lufthansa.com
www.panasonic.aero
June 28: In May, Fastnet Line chief executive Phil Jones said that on the new Swansea-Cork route on the MV Julia tourism traffic figures were 100 per cent higher in April than predictions, and that pre-bookings were currently exceeding expectations. Funded mainly by private investors in Ireland and Wales, the service has been dubbed The People’s Ferry after a long public campaign to reintroduce the service to the south-west region of Ireland.
www.fastnetline.com
News round up
May 28: Korean Air recently launched its own iPhone application to users around the world, allowing them to access up-to-the minute flight and airline information with just one touch. To mark the event the airline held special events on its global website, with prizes including two round-the-world tickets. Services available through the application include checking flight status, schedules and availability, reservation information, ticket fares and SKYPASS mileage details. More services such as ticket purchases and mobile check-in will be added. Users can view a list of Korean Air?s call centres in the relevant country. The application is also linked with other social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook so the public can gain easy access to all the airline?s connected sites. The service is downloaded free through iPhone App store and is in many languages including Korean, English, Japanese, and Chinese. Recent awards for Korean have included best transpacific business class, best airline in Asia and best North Asian airline. Last year it was also a winner of the global travel catering distinction award, and in another contest was named as having the world?s best inflight service.
www.koreanair.com
May 28: KLM has launched a pilot project offering ? la carte
catering on board. Passengers travelling in economy can choose from four dishes on flights from Amsterdam to Bangkok, Taipei, Dubai, Cape Town, Singapore and Denpasar. Orders can be placed when checking in online. The trial will run until the end of August this year.
Customers will be able to choose from meals including a healthy Japanese meal; an Indonesian rice table; a Bella Italia meal, Italian dishes, and a sustainable
dining meal of organic chicken, vegetables and cheese. The meals can be ordered and paid for when checking in online between 30 and 24 hours prior to departure, at a cost of EUR15 per dish. "The wishes and choices of our customers are key??our aim is to align our products even more closely to what different customers want," said Erik Varwijk, executive vice-president of KLM Commercial. The ? la carte meals are part of the Delicious range that KLM introduced in economy to intercontinental destinations in February. The airline says the range contributes to the uniform image of the onboard product.
www.klm.com
May 28: In May, Fastnet Line chief executive Phil Jones said that on the new Swansea-Cork route on the MV Julia tourism traffic figures were 100 per cent higher in April than predictions, and that pre-bookings were currently exceeding expectations. Funded mainly by private investors in Ireland and Wales, the service has been dubbed The People's Ferry after a long public campaign to reintroduce the service to the south-west region of Ireland. The West Cork Tourism Co-op was established in April 2009 and acquired the ship in September, with the first sailing on 11 March this year. Since then, the company has received booking revenues in excess of ?3 million with over 15,000 passengers taking advantage of the overnight sailings to-date. The year-round service runs six nights a week, with additional sailings in high-season, departing at 21.00, arriving 07.00. There is capacity of 1,860 passengers, 440 cars, 40 trucks/trailers, and 300 cabins, including 14 deluxe. The vessel has a number of bars and restaurants, on-board cinema and retail space, children?s playing area, kennels for passengers? pets and extensive deck areas. Casino and internet access will be available on board from early summer. Said Phil Jones: ?hassle-free access from London, the south-east and the Midlands via the M4 and road trip savings of over 370 miles over alternative sea crossings are attracting passengers from all along the M4 corridor looking for an easy path to the great attractions of south-west Ireland. We are working with Tourism Ireland in Great Britain and Visit Wales to help promote these two fantastic tourist destinations to our passengers.?
www.fastnetline.com
May 28: Grand Est Restauration, the French subsidiary of Accor Group?s Compagnie des Wagons-Lits (CWL), recently won
the SNCF contract for catering and onboard services on Germany-bound TGV Est and TGV Alleo trains. The two-year contract starts 1st July. The company says its offer ?will be based on culinary concepts and trends that are both original and simple, in step with consumer expectations and the national nutrition and health programme.? Local production will be a strong emphasis. New services and occasional promotions are planned to brighten up journeys. In Europe CWL has 4500 staff and a 2009 turnover of 248 million euros. It operates on the
main European rail networks in Portugal, Italy and Austria as well as France. The Portuguese rail network (CP) recently renewed its contract with the local subsidiary of CWL for catering services on board Alfa-Pendular high-speed trains. A commercial brand "Latitudes, caf?-comboio" was developed to convey the new offer with top quality, natural, products supplied by local producers. Recipes and menus, based on seasonal fruit and vegetables, were created by renowned local chef Michele Olivier da Costa. Since the beginning of February, in a temporary association with Wasteels, CWL has also been operating hotel services on board national and European night trains, as well as related logistics management.
www.cwl-services.com
May 6: Bmi’s newly refurbished UK and Ireland London Room lounge at Heathrow Terminal 1 includes improved business facilities, redesigned relaxation areas, new menu items, and coffee-to-go. For customers travelling to destinations in the UK and Ireland, the lounge is available to Gold and Silver Diamond Club members as well as those with the recently introduced flexible economy and economy extra tickets. It shares design features with the airline’s international lounge such as black flock wallpaper and black mirrored glass tiling around the entrance and exits. Walls are hung with a series of black and white photographs of London scenes including pearly kings and queens, Borough Market and Camden Lock. Other enhancements include an improved work area with six PCs available and free wi-fi access throughout; and redesigned servery and washroom areas. A new menu offers continental breakfast until 11am, snacks throughout the day and a choice of afternoon tea cake served from 4pm. Customers can also help themselves to coffee-to-go en-route to the gate.
www.flybmi.com
May 6: Eurostar says its new Standard Premier product is a mid-class designed to appeal to the more cost-conscious business traveller, and leisure travellers who want a little bit more space and service. For travel from September 1st, the new class will replace the existing Leisure Select, which has been on offer since 2005. Customers are presented with calm, spacious surroundings with on-board staff offering a light meal and a selection of magazines. The change comes as a result of extensive customer feedback and market research. Business Premier passengers continue to enjoy fully flexible fares, a 10-minute express check-in, business lounge access, plus drinks and menus often designed by top ranking chefs. This summer they will enjoy dishes by Michelin-starred chef Graham Garrett from the Kent restaurant The West House. Return prices for Standard Class start from £69; for Standard Premier from £189 and for Business Premier from £450.
www.eurostar.com
May 6: Demolition work on Heathrow’s terminal 2 began in May to make way for its £1 billion replacement. The new terminal will be home to Star Alliance airlines, and will handle 20 million passengers a year. Locating one alliance at the new terminal is aimed at reducing connecting times for passengers and providing improved, faster service. The original Terminal 2 closed to passengers at the end of last year, after 55 years. Originally called the Europa Building, it was the airport’s first terminal and opened in 1956. Stars and royalty passing through included the Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Gwyneth Paltrow, Princess Margaret and Princess Grace of Monaco.
In 1980, tapes from the classic TV show Dallas containing the ‘who shot JR?’ storyline arrived amid tight security at Terminal 2. In 2006, Matt Damon filmed scenes from the Bourne Ultimatum in the terminal’s arrivals hall.
www.heathrowairport.com
May 6: LSG Sky Chefs has established services at two new joint-venture facilities at the airports of Lanzhou and Urumqi in north-west China. Both are in cooperation with Hainan Airlines Group (HNA)in which LSG Sky Chefs has a 49 per cent share. Lanzhou Zhongchuan Airport (LHW), the hub of Gansu province, serves some 2.6 million passengers annually flying on domestic and international flights. The new customer service centre covers 2000 sq m and currently serves nine airlines including Hainan, China Southern and Air China. Ninety one employees produce an average of 2,600 meals per day for 25 flights. Urumqi International Airport (URC) is a regional hub and a major Chinese crossroad connecting western China to 53 destinations in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. LSG Sky Chefs’ facility covers 2600 sq m, with 72 employees serving Hainan Airlines, Tianjin Airlines, Deer Jet and Lucky Air. They produce an average of 2,000 meals a day for 20 flights out of URC. “Our long and trusting cooperation with HNA Group is the foundation of these two brand-new facilities,” said H.K. Cheung, LSG Sky Chefs chief operating officer for Asia-Pacific. “It has continuously grown since our first common joint venture in Sanya, Hainan in 2003.”
www.lsgskychefs.com
Apr 28: gategroup brands in North America have been awarded airline contracts totalling nearly CHF 200 million, equally spread across new and existing business.
The agreements are with US and international carriers and include gategroup brands Gate Gourmet, Pourshins, Supplair, deSter, eGate Solutions and Gate Safe. Group ceo Guy Dubois said: "These awards at major gateways have turned a corner for our North American region and will serve gategroup well when the inevitable economic upturn materialises." ?
www.gategroup.com
Apr 28: Monarch Airlines appointed Alpha with effect from May 2010 as its outsourced partner for the management of its total catering and inflight retail needs.
Under the agreement Alpha takes responsibility for the creation and delivery of the catering and retail customer proposition, associated budget and related passenger satisfaction metrics on all Monarch flights. Alpha also has full control and design of the supply chain with Monarch Airlines holding full brand ownership and final sign-off.
www.alpha-group.com
www.monarch.co.uk
www.eurostar.co.uk
www.flyviking.com
Apr 28:British Airways' debuted its new First cabin on a B777 flight to Chicago. The new product has been designed to give guests a private jet experience and comes in a classic quink blue and cream combination.
The £100 million investment has resulted in individual private suites each with their own personal wardrobe, leather-bound writing desk and a 15" IFE screen. The enhanced flat bed is 60 per cent wider at the shoulders with an 'intelligent' mattress and sheets are the finest Egyptian linen.
www.ba.com
Apr 28: Interviewing an upbeat Tim Clark, Emirates president, the local national newspaper in Abu Dhabi says the airline has thrown down the gauntlet to rivals who are mothballing their premium cabins, claiming dwindling demand. "When airlines say there is no First or Business class,this is music to my ears," he commented. "I'm sorry guys. If you really think planet Earth is going to be in the doldrums circa 2008 forever, forget it. Premium business is going to come bouncing back. We have a lot of First class coming out of Europe, Asia and South America."
Some airlines might be taking out their First cabins but according to Nestlé, the demand for premium products is showing signs of growth. So much so that it has invested CHF 25 million in a Chocolate Centre of Excellence to research into producing the finest product with help from cocoa bean scientists, sensory experts, chocolatiers and packaging designers.
www.emirates.com
www.nestle.com
Apr 28: Etihad Airways will install new technology on its long-haul aircraft that can monitor the condition of passengers who might require immediate medical attention.
The Tempus IC system gives cabin crew fast information on a passenger's health quickly and efficiently. Data available includes blood pressure and an electrocardiogram. It also allows the crew to take photo imagery. That information is then transmitted to an expert medical team specialised in assistance in inflight medical contingencies.
www.etihadairways.com
Apr 28: March saw Bahrain's national carrier Gulf Air launch Falcon Gold, its new premium cabin that effectively combines First and Business into one new product. "With the introduction of Falcon Gold everyone wins," says ceo Samer Majali. "Our traditional Business customers receive a superior, more consistent product and our First passengers continue to
njoy all the elements of the service, at a better rate."
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