Airline reveals new 'comfort class'

TURKISH Airlines has exposed its new seating class, which it says combines business class convenience with economy value.

Comfort class, the airline’s fourth seating class, will be presented on its Boeing 777 aircraft on flights to Asia and the Americas.

The seats will be 49 centimetres wide with a pitch of 116 centimetres and will comprise 10.6 inch in-arm video screens.

Passengers will be able to utilize personal USB devices or iPods and there will also be a leg rest available.

"The intention is to combine the convenience of business-class with the reasonable purchasing rates of economy-class," a Turkish Airlines spokesperson said.

"The most significant privilege that comfort class provides the passengers is that the seats have been designed in a way allowing the knee and sitting space to be kept at its maximum range."

The product will be primarily offered on the airline’s Sao Paulo, Beijing, Tokyo, Bangkok and Shanghai routes.

It will moreover be offered on New York, Chicago and Washington DC flights.

New Business Class Flight launched by Alitalia

It has been exposed by Alitalia that they have outfitted their two new Airbus A330's with upgraded business and premium economy class features. Whilst the first plane is by now in service, the second Airbus will be introduced later this summer and be used for routes heading to Milan from UK airports including London Heathrow.

Using one of the new planes for services to and from Milan Malpensa airport, Alitalia declared that they had completely upgraded their 'Magnifica' Business Class. Including leather seats, which can fully sprawl, and 15.4 inch entertainment screens with added privacy options, passengers can access more than 40 films and 12 audio channels.

Meanwhile headsets specially manufactured to decrease noise will boost viewing comfort whilst Alitalia's 'Culti' wellbeing amenity kits will offer travellers exclusive products to help them freshen up after a long flight. In addition, custom cabin lighting will permit individuals to create their perfect, relaxing, environment.

Elsewhere the company has also initiated a new 'Classica Plus' class to their Airbus', giving 21 passengers the opportunity to upgrade from economy class.

Alaska Airlines to initiate Bellingham-Honolulu flights

Travelers in Northwestern Washington and Vancouver B.C. will have a new way to reach Hawaii next year when Alaska Airlines begins nonstop service between Bellingham and Honolulu.

The news is a boost for the expanding Bellingham International Airport, ranked just in a survey by Cheapflights.com as having the cheapest overall average fares among 101 U.S. airports for domestic flights.

Seattle-based Alaska said it will launch nonstop service starting January 7 with a daily flight between Bellingham and Honolulu at 5:20 p.m. and a return flight at 10:25 p.m. The flights will be operated with Boeing 737-800 aircraft, accommodating 16 passengers in first class and 141 in the main cabin.

"It's actually great news for folks in and around the Bellingham area," said Art Choat, Bellingham's director of aviation. "It creates life a whole lot easier for anyone going to Hawaii."