Direct Flight to Moscow form Aleppo Eeach Monday

Damascus - The Syrian Arab Airlines announced on Sunday operating direct flight on Moscow-Aleppo route commencing from June 14th, 2010.

It also announced that it will link flights from Madrid to Damascus along with the local flights from Damascus to Aleppo and vice versa by its modern planes `ATR72` as of June 1st.
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The Airlines said the move comes to give comfort for the passengers traveling from Aleppo Airport to Madrid through Damascus Airport, adding that the passengers will travel to Damascus by the ATR72 airplanes then to Madrid by other plane. ‏

The Syrian Arab Airlines has lately received two ATR72 planes behind the Commercial Bank of Syria financed the purchase deal at the amount of USD 45 millions and operated them on local and short regional routes. ‏

The ATR72 planes are economic and outfitted with a high-quality entertainment system. They enclose 12 business class seats and 54 economy class seats.

'Flower Power' Airbus A340 rolls out by Swiss International Air Lines

Swiss International Air Lines has revealed its "San Francisco" aircraft, which the carrier says is its first plane with a unique paint scheme. Swiss describes its particularly painted Airbus A340 as having a colorful and flowery design together with striking 'San Francisco' lettering as a tribute to the West Coast city's famed flower power past.

So, why is a Swiss carrier painting one of its aircraft to commemorate a U.S. city? To commemorate its commence of San Francisco service, of course.

Swiss will start nonstop service between Zurich and San Francisco on June 2, with the inaugural flight to be operated on the San Francisco-painted A340. The airline says the plane will be the first of its A340s to aspect its new business-class cabin.

EgyptAir to begin Copenhagen flights

EgyptAir has confirmed plans to operate three nonstop weekly flights to Copenhagen, starting from 1st October 2010.

The flights will be on Fridays, Sundays, and Wednesdays.

Because of the rising demand on travel to and from this region, EgyptAir took the decision of inaugurating this important route, which serves the Egyptian and European investors in both countries, said Engineer Hussien Massoud, EgyptAir Holding chairman and CEO.

Egypt is the natural linkage between Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The Danish authorities improve the materialization of the decision to operate the route, he added.

The airline will fly to Copenhagen by its B737-800 fleet, which accommodates 24 business class seats with an entertainment scheme that features Video–On-Demand (VOD) and a laptop power outlet.

Air India employees call off strike

BANGALORE: Nearly 10,000 staff of Air India, the country’s debt-ridden carrier convalescing from last week’s Mangalore crash, called off their strike, after the Delhi High Court barred employees to continue their agitation on Wednesday. We were organizing for actual recovery of those dead in Mangalore crash and handing them over to the relatives when the strike hit us, Arvind Jadhav, chairman and managing director of Air India’s parent National Aviation Company (NACIL) told ET.

NACIL had moved a petition in the court demanding the flash strike by Air India workers. We had a national disaster and our first priority was to deal with the air crash. The strike did not have at all ground, said Mr Jadhav.

India’s civil aviation minister, Praful Patel, said the government will fully back Air India’s management on any strong action against the employees who boycotted work as the strike entered its second day. Mr. Patel said, The Air India management is free to take any action and react to the situation sufficiently and firmly.

Four days after the Mangalore crash, the bad in India in a decade, some Air India Unions went on strike on Monday against a management gag order. Air India Express 737-800 had crashed in Mangalore killing 158 of the 166 people on board. Arriving from Dubai, the aircraft overshot the airstrip into a ravine, broke into pieces and then burst into flames.

Meanwhile, private carriers such as Kingfisher Airlines and Jet Airways profited from the Air India crisis. The unions organizing the strike signified more than 10,000 Air India workers, of which only around 1,500 workers had staged the walkout, according to Air India. These comprise flights from Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore.

The strike was tremendously damaging for Air India. The time has come to take some tough measures or announce temporary shutdown, said Amber Dubey, director - Aerospace and Defence KPMG.

According to him the company posted income of Rs 1,500 crore last year. This is a peak time and the loss to the company could be to the tune of Rs 50 crore per day, said Dubey.

American Airlines Commences New Flight Between Chicago O'Hare and Beijing, China

AAdvantage Members Can Earn up to 15,000 Bonus Miles for journey on new route.

American Airlines today starts its first flight between Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport, one of the world's busiest airports.

Here is the flight schedule:

Chicago to Beijing as of May 25:

On Friday and Sunday

Depart: 8:30 p.m. Arrive: 11:00 p.m. (next day, local time)

On Tuesday and Thursday

Depart: 9:30 p.m. Arrive: 11:59 p.m. (next day, local time)

Beijing to Chicago as of May 27:

On Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday

Depart: 7:59 a.m. Arrive: 7:49 a.m. (same day, local time)

On Tuesday

Depart: 6:59 a.m. Arrive: 6:49 a.m. (same day, local time)

The Beijing flight will be flown with a Boeing 777, aspects 14 First Class, 37 Business Class and 194 Economy seats.

EgyptAir commence new 777-300ER flights from Dubai to Cairo

The UAE in general, purposely Dubai, is considered one of our main markets. Captain Alaa Ashour, EgyptAir Airlines Chairman and CEO said, EgyptAir strategy is incessantly providing new products and services, and everyone in the company knows how important is to satisfy our customers' needs.

The new aircraft – already on use on the Cairo London service - gives business class customers dedicated power outlets to recharge their personal devices, full flat beds and a state-of-the-art entertainment system displayed on a 15” personal screen with hundreds of entertainment options. This plane accommodate for 49 Business class flat bed seats.

The Economy Class on this type accommodates wider and more calming seats, and each seat features the personal entertainment system with screens in each seat back, economy class customers will also have power outlets in their seats to recharge their personal electronic devices.

This new aircraft is equipped with superior lighting system which functions through colors mixing. Customers will enjoy the different lighting moods to imitate the Sunset, sunrise and relaxing lightening, in addition, the plane ceiling is offered will stars- like lights.

The aircraft will operate each day non-stop to Cairo on flight number MS911.

World's most excellent airline named as Qantas slips in rankings

South Korea's Asiana Airlines has been named the airline of the year on the annual World Airline Awards.

Qantas lost another spot in the 2010 awards proclaimed last night in Hamburg, Germany, dropping to seventh place, down from sixth last year. In 2008, it was rated the world's third top airline.

The annual awards by Skytrax are based on surveys with more than 17 million passengers, carried out more than 10 months.

The final best 10 ranking in the awards were:

1. Asiana Airlines
2. Singapore Airlines
3. Qatar Airways
4. Cathay Pacific
5. Air New Zealand
6. Etihad Airways
7. Qantas Airways
8. Emirates
9. Thai Airways
10. Malaysia Airlines

Additional awards announced included:

Best low-cost airline: 1. AirAsia; 2. Air Berlin; 3. Virgin Blue
Best regional airline: 1. Dragonair; 2. Silkair; 3.Bangkok Airways
Most-improve airline:1. Garuda Indonesia; 2. Hainan Airlines; 3. Oman Air
Best leisure airline: 1. Thomson Airways; 2. TUIFly; 3. Monarch Airlines
Best in-flight entertainment: 1. Emirates; 2. Singapore Airlines; 3. Virgin Atlantic
Best cabin staff: 1. Singapore Airlines; 2. Malaysia Airlines; 3. Asiana Airlines
Best airline alliance: 1. oneworld; 2. Star Alliance; 3. SkyTeam
Best trans-Atlantic airline: 1. Virgin Atlantic; 2. British Airways; 3. Lufthansa
Best trans-Pacific airline: 1. Cathay Pacific; 2. Singapore Airlines; 3. Asiana
Best first-class airline: 1. Etihad; 2. Singapore Airlines; 3. Qantas
Best business-class airline: 1. Qatar Airways; 2 Singapore Airlines; 3. Etihad
Best premium economy class: 1. Qantas; 2. Air New Zealand; 3. ANA
Best economy class: 1. Malaysia Airlines; Qatar Airways; 3. Singapore Airlines

Etihad Airways' striking latest first class cabin

IS it possible to forget you are flying when trapped in a limited space at 39,000 feet? And just as significantly, is it possible to be pampered to within an inch of your life?

Well, the good folk at Etihad Airways are absolutely giving it a shot with their new first class cabin, refurbished at a cost of about $70 million.

The Abu Dhabi-headquartered airline has filled the front end of the plane with a host of slight touches that, when put together, add up to a level of luxury and comfort almost not probable to find fault with.

The standard elements of first class are there - an almost idiotically wide seat that folds into a fully flat bed. Comfy pyjamas to sleep in, keeping your clothes fresh for arrival and an enormous screen to watch your preferred movies and television shows.

Etihad Airways flies nonstop daily from Sydney and Melbourne to Abu Dhabi. It moreover flies three times a week from Brisbane, via Singapore.

Air services between Russia and Georgia partly recommenced

The Russian Transportation Ministry has permitted to the Georgian private air company of Georgian Airways carrying out direct charter flights Tbilisi – Moscow – Tbilisi. The air carrier has taken away a license for charter air carriage for the period from the May, 24 to the November, 1, 2010.

The Georgian Airways company presumes to carry out three – four flights a week, but this question is not yet clarified. According to different data, the flights are permitted till the June, 9th or till the July, 1 and it will be 12 flights only. Nobody knows exactly, but the services can take place, as it was in spring. The tickets for the flight are already on sale in Tbilisi.

Russia-IC proposes a taxi service to all the foreigners, coming to Moscow. You can prefer a car and count the price of transfer as well as book the service here. Mainly drivers are English-speaking, and you can pay with a credit card.

British Airways strike could begin at midnight if appeal succeeds

British Airways cabin crew could walk out at midnight if the court of appeal overturn yesterday's ruling that their sequence of strikes would be unlawful, a union lawyer said this afternoon.

Unite, which represents more than 90% of British Airways cabin crew, is appealing against the high court's decision that the union did not obey with its statutory duties after carrying out a strike ballot earlier this year.

Three of Britain's mainly senior judges are hearing the appeal at the Royal Courts of Justice: the lord chief justice, Lord Judge, the master of the rolls, Lord Neuberger, and Lady Justice Smith.

Asked in court about the timescale of any industrial action, John Hendy QC, for Unite, said the strike could potentially begin by midnight tonight if the appeal judges ruled in the union's favour.

The judges may not deliver their judgment until tomorrow, however, depending on how long counsel spends making symbols.

UAE air traffic posts 10.6% development in April despite volcanic eruption

Ability to cope with emergency situations cited as reason for continuous flight movement.

Air traffic in the UAE grew by 10.6% in April compared to the same period in 2009 despite a reduce in global movement due to flight disruptions in Europe caused by volcanic activity in Iceland, a report by the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said.

Flights reached 52,300 contrasted to 47,300 last year.

The standard growth of air traffic from January to April 2010 was 11.5%.

Globally, the number of passengers traveling business class seats on international markets rose by 7.6% in the first quarter of 2010, compared to the same period last year and 10.8% in March 2010 from the same levels in 2009, according to the IATA report.

Economy travel increased by 7.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2010 and 8.8 per cent in March compared to last year.

Despite this growth, the volcanic ash disruption to air operations has put a dent in overall international travel by about 4 per cent, according to IATA.

Cathay Pacific Airways Travellers obtain New Travel Kits

There's something new and diverse for travellers on Cathay Pacific Airways. The airline is going to commence a new range of travel kits for Business Class customers.

The Business Class travel kits have been designed by French fashion house agnes b for the Honk Kong airline. The designer’s signature bags have been admired by passengers since their introduction.

The travel kits will comprise skin care products from Murad and Dermologica, the two leading US skin care companies. Multi Vitamin Power Firm for the eyes and lips and Pure Night treatment cream are also to be offered to the Business Class passenger, free of charge.

The new female travel kits will be launched in mid-May and the male travel kits are to be later pioneered in June. The international airline is also modernizing their sleeper suits, designed by a leading Chinese brand, Shanghai Tang.

First class passengers will have a wider option of colours for their sleepersuits in long-haul flights. The new design, offered in rotation, will appear in four different colours – chocolate, navy, charcoal and black. The launch of the new products reflects the airline’s business vision, which is to give outstanding products and services.

Jetstar Announces to start fly Long-haul out of Singapore Airport

Local media on Thursday revealed that low-cost carrier Jetstar has announced that it will start long-haul flights out of Changi Airport to Australia, north Asia and probably European destinations by the end of this year, the first such carrier to initiate with such a thing in Singapore.

Services are posted to be operated by the airline's new 303-seater Airbus 330-200 aircraft, the first of which will arrive in Singapore in November with a second slated to be delivered early next year.

Spokesman for Jetstar Asia in Singapore posted that the company proposed to launch two routes by the time the second aircraft arrives.

The carrier's plan to operate long-haul flights from Singapore is cited to show as a great beneficiary for travelers who can now make more choices and enjoy much better deals.

With the commence that we have done for Singapore to Osaka at $198 per person per way, we are looking at the long-haul flight of, say 10 hours or so, in the region of $300 per person per way. However the final pricing will also have to depend on the destination, Ms. Chong explained.

The A330-200 aircrafts is revealed to have a 303 passenger's capacity and will present an international business class option under the name StarClass for its elite passengers.

American Airlines to commence Chicago to Beijing Service

American Airlines said that their nonstop flights from the O’Hare International Airport in Chicago to Beijing Capital International Airport will start with 4-times a week service to commence on May 25. The carrier then plans to commence nonstop services from Beijing to Chicago on May 27. They will offer departures from both cities all day starting July 3.

American Airlines originally intended to commence this service on April 26, but they complained that the takeoff and landing times that China was allowing weren’t favorable for them. Originally, Chinese aviation officials offered a 2:20am arrival time and 4:20am departure time from Beijing.

Under the latest schedule, American Airlines flights will leave Chicago on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:30pm to arrive in Beijing at 11pm the next day. Flights will too leave on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:30pm and arrive at 11:59pm. On Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, flights from Beijing will leave at 7:59am to arrive at 7:49am the similar day in Chicago. Flights will as well leave on Tuesdays at 6:59am and arrive at 6:49am.

The flights will be functioned by Boeing 777 planes that have 14 first-class, 37 business-class and 194 economy-class seats. This is also the second nonstop service the airline functions to the country.

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Note: Take your favorite airways to exotic destinations and book worldwide vacation rentals for any destination in the world

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Sitting Up Front: First Class Experience on United Airlines

Depending on the type of plane that you board you either walk right past them all, or you are enforced to turn the other way and never even see them.

We're discussion about the first class or business class seats. The back of the plane is where why finding ourselves nine times out of ten, but we can always dream about the Promised Land.

That's why we wanted to share what we identify about flying in the front of the plane, and what it takes to get there.

United Airlines has a lot of its flights coming and going from the middle of the country, so we understand the require to escape to the coast; however, doing so in the front of the plane is going set you back a few bucks.

In the first week of June a flight from Chicago to San Diego will cost about $1,700 in business class. United does present a true first class choice as well, and this will cost you $18,000 from Chicago to Tokyo. Things seem like a bargain in business class for only $8,000 on the similar route to Asia.

Delta, American Express present Free First Check Bag

To help business owners decrease their travel expenses, American Express OPEN will, beginning June 1, waive fees for first checked bags upon check-in for American Express Delta Small Business Gold, Platinum and Reserve Delta SkyMiles members and up to eight other individuals in the same travel reservation.

For a traveling couple, this equates to $100 in roundtrip savings and $200 for a group of 4, American Express reports.

Small Business Gold, Platinum and Reserve Delta SkyMiles Cardmembers increase other benefits and perk the Card offers.

The new card benefit applies to up to 9 people traveling in the same reservation including the Cardmember. As a result, a family of four could save up to $200 when airborne round-trip. Cardmembers obtain a first checked bag fee waiver upon check-in.

First and Business Class passengers, SkyMiles Medallion members, and passengers with a confirmed Full Y Class Economy ticket may persist to check up to two bags at no charge.

Scottish airports reopen behind volcanic ash risk

Airspace over Scotland has reopened because a volcanic ash cloud that grounded hundreds of flights has moved away, specialists have said.

The ash cloud moved west overnight and has currently cleared all UK airspace, air traffic control body Nats said.

Glasgow, Edinburgh and Prestwick airports and Western Isles routes were among those pretentious on Wednesday.

According to most recent information from the Met Office, from 0700 today all UK airfields will be available.

Flights had been cancelled at Glasgow Airport on Wednesday, while Edinburgh and Inverness both resumed operations afterward in the day.

Aberdeen, Dundee, Kirkwall, Sumburgh and Wick also stayed open on Wednesday, but Prestwick, Campbeltown, Stornoway, Benbecula, Tiree, Islay and Barra were among others hit by no-fly restrictions.

Dubai businessman tactics airline in Lebanon

Georges Mousa, a Dubai-based Lebanese businessman, will launch a full-service airline from his country in the next 18 months, subject to essential approvals.

The plan for the airline is prepared. However, we will have to wait for the Lebanese Government to open up the skies for competition," Mousa, who owns Dubai-based Planet Group, told Gulf News.

His company operates a travel agency and provides different business travel services. Planet Group is spending Dh1 billion in hotel development in the UAE.

Two other anonymous Gulf partners will join Mousa's airline venture. Jointly, we have enough resources to fund the start-up airline and run it successfully, he said.

The Lebanese Government is probable to open its sky to competition in 2012. Until then its flag carrier Middle East Airline (MEA) will carry on to enjoy a monopoly, Fadi Aboud, Minister of Tourism, told Gulf News.

Mousa's effort will be the second airline venture in Lebanon by Gulf-based investors.

AirTran flights to Baltimore launch today

AirTran officially commenced its Grand Rapids service today when its first flight landed at Gerald R. Ford International Airport.

Dick DeVos, of the West Michigan Regional Air Alliance, was aboard the flight, which landed after noon, with executives from AirTran.

Two water cannons squirted the plane as it taxied down the airstrip.

AirTran will present nonstop service to Baltimore, Orlando, Fla., and soon Fort Myers, Fla.

Iraq's symbolic go back to the skies

The restoration of Iraqi Airways' London to Baghdad route after 20 years summarize the current mood of unity.

It is a testament to the power of symbolism that each of these events, embossed in the minds of millions around the world, at the same time caused no injuries and yet precipitated waves of bloodletting that killed hundreds.

This Saturday, for the first time in 20 years, Iraqi Airways will work a flight from London to Baghdad. Its planes will touch down at the very same airport that until recently forced pilots to carry out nerve-wracking corkscrew landings due to the danger from ground fire.

The historic restoration of this route has potential consequences that go far beyond the clear convenience for business travelers, archaeological tourists and pilgrims. With the opening up of the Gatwick link, Iraq rejoins the League of Nations whose flags have a fair place over EU skies.