News Update

Gadhafi's son praises Libya-U.S. relations updated 1 day ago

Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, the eldest son -- and heir apparent -- of Libyan leader Col. Moammar Gadhafi, said he'd like to see "shock treatment" democratization in his country, while his father wants a slower pace.

Budget airline 'jeopardized windpipe transplant' updated 2 days ago

The successful transplant of a lab-grown windpipe almost did not happen when budget airline staff refused to allow the transportation of stem cells needed for the operation, UK newspapers reported Friday.

Queuing psychology: Can waiting in line be fun? updated Thu, November 20, 2008

Warning: Standing in line can cause extreme boredom, annoyance and even rage, which is precisely why there is a fascinating science devoted to what makes people tick -- and ticked off -- when forced to wait.

Rolls-Royce to slash up to 2,000 jobs updated Thu, November 20, 2008

Rolls-Royce Group said Thursday it plans to cut up to 2,000 jobs next year as demand for its products slumps amid the global economic downturn.

IATA reports sharp fall in business travel updated Thu, November 20, 2008

The number of passengers traveling on premium airline tickets dropped eight percent in September, reflecting the severity of the global financial crisis and a slump in the confidence of manufacturers in the U.S., Japan and Europe, an industry trade group said in a report Wednesday.

New runways open at 3 of nation's busiest airports updated Thu, November 20, 2008

Brand new runways are opening at three major airports Thursday, giving the aviation community something to cheer about in a year of dismal economic and travel news.

Alitalia sale approved updated Wed, November 19, 2008

The Italian government has given its seal of approval for the takeover of Alitalia assets by a group of investors.

TSA boosts 'behavior detection,' mulls other changes updated Wed, November 19, 2008

This holiday season, it's still shoes off and liquids out at airport security, but changes may be on the way to part of this routine, and agents will be watching much more than the contents of your carry-on.

Bush hopes to ease holiday travel congestion updated Tue, November 18, 2008

Corridors of military airspace will be temporarily opened to commercial airliners during the holiday season in an effort to alleviate heavy traffic, President Bush announced Tuesday.

Alitalia slashing 100 flights a day updated Tue, November 18, 2008

Alitalia will scrap 100 flights a day until the end of November due to ongoing wildcat strikes by pilots and flight attendants, the airline's bankruptcy administrator said in an interview published Tuesday.

Book Emirates Flight, get free stay at the Atlantis Palm A complimentary journey to Atlantis with Emirates

In partnership with Atlantis, the incredible world of aquatic wonders and Palm Jumeirah's flagship resort, Emirates is pleased to announce a very special offer:

• Fly First Class to or via Dubai with Emirates and enjoy a two-night complimentary stay at Atlantis The Palm
• Fly Business Class to or via Dubai with Emirates and enjoy a one-night complimentary stay at Atlantis The Palm

This offer also includes unlimited access to Aquaventure, the revolutionary waterscape, and The Lost Chambers, a maze of underwater halls and tunnels.

Offered on a bed and breakfast basis, this extraordinary package, based on single or double room occupancy, is valid for journeys made in First and Business Class between 4th October and 24th December 2008.

To take advantage of this offer, book your flight online and contact your local Emirates office to arrange your hotel stay.

Terms and conditions apply.

 

http://www.emirates.com/th/English/destinations_offers/special_offers/discover_atlantis_the_palm/discover_atlantis_the_palm.aspx

Green Lakes Serviced Apartments : Exclusive offer for all Emirates passengers

Book your stay at Green Lakes Serviced Apartments and receive a free room upgrade and an exclusive welcome gift pack with all the essentials required for the perfect stay.

 

Located in the prestigious Jumeirah Lakes Towers precinct, and a stone's throw from business hubs such as Dubai Media City, Dubai Internet City and Jebel Ali Free Zone, Green Lakes Serviced Apartments offers a variety of short and long term letting options for our very spacious one, two and three bedroom fully-furnished apartments.

Learn more about the apartment features and facilities.

Make your hotel reservation online now.

Book your ticket online or contact your nearest Emirates office.

All Emirates flights are now arriving at and departing from our brand new, exclusive terminal at Dubai International Airport

All Emirates flights are now arriving at and departing from our brand new, exclusive terminal at Dubai International Airport

Emirates has embarked on yet another bold chapter in its dynamic, pioneering history, replicating the comfort and convenience of flying Emirates on the ground.

Finding your way

Find out about transfers between terminals, view a road map to find Emirates Terminal 3, and download a map of the inside of the building.

Check-in

Checking in at Emirates Terminal 3 becomes an effortless experience, meaning less waiting and more time to relax and explore.

Lounges

Emirates is renowned for its First and Business Class experience in the air. The themed lounges for First and Business Class bring that outstanding service to the terminal.

World Class Amenities

An impressive range of shopping outlets, international restaurants and cafes and no less than three of our own Timeless Spas, makes Emirates Terminal 3 a destination on its own.

Airport Hotel

Located at the heart of the airport, the Airport Hotel has been designed to provide a tranquil getaway from the rigours of your journey.

Singapore Airlines Updates Route Network

Singapore Airlines Updates Route Network

29 October 2008

Singapore Airlines is making adjustments to its network during the Northern Winter schedule to better match capacity with demand.

These changes, listed below, will take place progressively throughout the five-month-long Northern Winter schedule, which takes effect from 26 October 2008.

Flights to Penang and Ho Chi Minh will be gradually reduced during the Northern Winter period.  As a result, Singapore Airlines will operate 18 weekly flights to Penang and 17 weekly flights to Ho Chi Minh.

Service to and from Seoul will be reduced progressively from the start of the winter season with a reduction in frequency of SQ 608 (Singapore-Seoul) and SQ 609 (Seoul-Singapore). The flights will be suspended from service completely from 2 February to 28 March 2009, when the winter season ends. Despite this reduction, Singapore Airlines will continue to operate 17 weekly services to and from the Korean capital during winter.

Osaka will be served once a day from 2 November 2008 by SQ 618 (Singapore-Osaka) and SQ617 (Osaka-Singapore). Flights SQ 622 (Singapore-Osaka) and SQ 621 (Osaka-Singapore) will be suspended.

Frequencies to Bangalore and Chennai will also be reduced during the Northern Winter schedule. The affected flights are SQ 500 and SQ 501, on the Singapore-Bangalore route, and SQ 526, and SQ527, between Singapore and Chennai. Both cities in India will continue to be served daily.

Service to Amritsar will be withdrawn from 4 February 2009. Customers booked on flights to and from Amritsar will be re-accommodated on Singapore Airlines flight to and from Delhi.

From February 2009, Singapore Airlines will link its Cape Town flights to Johannesburg, although frequency will not change.  The Cape Town extension will operate on three flights weekly, while the daily service to Johannesburg is maintained.

These changes come as Singapore Airlines increases services to the Middle East.

Last week (26 October), the frequency of Singapore Airlines flights to Istanbul, via Dubai, was boosted from four to six flights per week.

The Airline will also commence operations to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 14 December 2008. The four-times weekly service will operate via Dubai every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

Singapore Airlines will be operating 20 times a week to Dubai with the start of operations to Riyadh.

In the current operating environment, Singapore Airlines remains committed to providing customers the highest standard of service, while ensuring capacity is allocated carefully to match demand. Where demand falls, capacity adjustments will be made quickly.

Some other changes will be made on an ad-hoc basis where demand requires.  Where changes are made, customers will be informed at the earliest opportunity, and rebooked onto alternative flights.

Singapore Airlines To Offer Preferred Seat Selection

Singapore Airlines To Offer Preferred Seat Selection

3 November 2008

Singapore Airlines customers making Economy Class bookings on singaporeair.com now have the additional choice of guaranteeing themselves a Preferred Seat, with the introduction of Preferred Seat Selection.  Currently, Preferred Seats available for allocation are located in exit rows.

Customers will be offered an option to purchase a specific Preferred Seat, when they make their seat selection for applicable Economy Class bookings – including KrisFlyer redemption bookings – on singaporeair.com.

Customers can also purchase a Preferred Seat anytime before check-in (which begins 48 hours before flight departure), simply by retrieving their bookings on singaporeair.com.

Preferred Seats offer customers more legroom, and are now available for advance and guaranteed customer selection, for a fee of USD 50 per sector, for all Singapore Airlines flights, except short-haul routes within Southeast Asia, and flights served by Boeing B777-200ER aircraft (this aircraft does not have seats located in exit rows). Preferred Seat Selection is subject to official approval in some markets, and some local variations may apply where regulatory approvals dictate.

Other categories of Preferred Seats, that similarly offer customers more legroom, may also be made available for selection in future.

Previously, Preferred Seats were only available on a request basis, without confirmation.  The new option now offers a guarantee of assignment, subject to terms and conditions, on a first come, first serve basis.

For seats located in exit rows, Singapore Airlines requires, as part of our commitment to the safety of all our customers, that those who select and occupy these seats must meet mandatory safety conditions. These prerequisites, which strictly comply with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore's flight safety guidelines, require that these customers must:

• Be at least 21 years of age at the commencement of the journey.
• Be fully able-bodied, and capable of opening the exit doors and moving quickly, or reaching and passing through the adjacent emergency exit.
• Be able to understand and follow the safety instructions in English.
• Be in good health at the time of check-in, boarding, and during the flight.
• Not be pregnant, or carrying infants, or using an infant seat belt.
• Not be under the influence of any intoxicating substance at check-in, boarding, and during the flight, as determined by ground and cabin crew.
• Not require an extension seat belt because of large body size.

For more information on Preferred Seat Selection, and the terms and conditions that apply in the purchase of Preferred Seats, please visit singaporeair.com.

Editor's Note

• An example: customers travelling on SQ16 to San Francisco, via Seoul, will pay USD50 to select a Preferred Seat on their flight. For customers traveling from Sydney to London via Singapore (eg. SQ222 for SYD-SIN, and subsequently SQ322 for SIN-LON) will have to pay USD100 to select Preferred Seats on both legs (i.e. SYD-SIN and SIN-LON), as each leg is considered one sector.
• There are no seats on the exit rows on Singapore Airlines' Boeing 777-200ER aircraft.
• Preferred Seat Selection is not available on the All Business-Class Airbus A340-500 aircraft as Preferred Seats are only available in Economy Class cabins.  Customers travelling in Business or First Class, or the Singapore Airlines Suites, enjoy specific seat selection at any time from the time of booking, with no additional charge.

Singapore Airlines Reduces Fuel Surcharges

Singapore Airlines Reduces Fuel Surcharges

04 November 2008

Singapore Airlines will lower its fuel surcharges for travellers in Business and Economy Class, across all routes, for tickets issued on or after Friday 7 November 2008.

The reduction is the second time since September 2008 that Singapore Airlines has reduced fuel surcharges, in line with the recent sustained fall in the price of jet fuel.

Besides the length of the journey, the surcharge levels will hereafter also take into account the class of travel. This is to fairly impute fuel related cost since the space occupied and weight utilised in each class is different. 

The new surcharges that will apply from Friday 7 November are as follows:

Route	Current surcharge*	New surcharge differentiated by cabin class*
Per ticketed sector	All cabin classes	First Class, Singapore Airlines Suites	Business Class	Economy Class
Between Singapore and South East Asia	36	36	32	28
Between Singapore and Europe, South Africa1	110	110	105	95
Between Singapore and North America	180	180	175	170
All Other Flights2	100	100	90	85

* All figures are in US Dollars, converted into the currency of sale at time of ticketing. Surcharge levels may be subject to regulatory approval in some markets.

Despite the recent easing of jet fuel prices, collections from fuel surcharges only partially offset the increased expenditure on jet fuel.  

Singapore Airlines will keep jet fuel prices under constant review, as they remain volatile.  Any changes in the application of surcharges will be based on trend price movements in the price of jet fuel.

___________________________________

¹This category also includes flights between North America and Hong Kong/ Seoul/ Tokyo/ Frankfurt and Moscow.

²Includes flights between Singapore and Australia, New Zealand, China, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, India, Bangladesh, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as flights between Dubai and Istanbul, Dubai and Moscow, and Bangkok and Tokyo.

Boeing factories set to resume work after strike

Workers are expected to return Sunday night to the commercial airplane factories that have been closed since the Sept. 6 walkout.

SEATTLE (AP) -- Factories at Boeing are due to start humming again Sunday after Machinists union members voted to end a costly eight-week strike that clipped profits and stalled deliveries by the world's number two commercial airplane maker.

Workers are expected to return Sunday night to Boeing's commercial airplane factories, which have been closed since the Sept. 6 walkout. The strike cost an estimated $100 million a day in deferred revenue and production delays on the company's highly anticipated next-generation passenger jet.

Machinists union members ended their walkout on Saturday by ratifying a new contract with Boeing (BA,Fortune 500). Members of the union, which represents about 27,000 workers at plants in Washington state, Oregon and Kansas, voted about 74 percent in favor of the proposal five days after the two sides tentatively agreed to the deal and union leaders recommended its approval.

"This contract gives the workers at Boeing an opportunity to share in the extraordinary success this company has achieved over the past several years," Mark Blondin, the union's aerospace coordinator and chief negotiator, said in a union news release.

"It also recognizes the need to act with foresight to protect the next generation of aerospace jobs. These members helped make Boeing the company it is today, and they have every right to be a part of its future," he said.

$349 billion backlog

The union has said the contract protects more than 5,000 factory jobs, prevents the outsourcing of certain positions and preserves health care benefits. It also promises pay increases over four years rather than three, as outlined in earlier offers.

The union members, including electricians, painters, mechanics and other production workers, have lost an average of about $7,000 in base pay since the strike began. They had rejected earlier proposals by the company, headquartered in Chicago.

It was the union's fourth strike against Boeing in two decades and its longest since 1995. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers staged strikes against Boeing for 24 days in 2005, 69 days in 1995 and 48 days in 1989.

"We're looking forward to having our team back together to resume the work of building airplanes for our customers," Scott Carson, Boeing Commercial Airplanes president and chief executive, said in a statement. "This new contract addresses the union's job security issues while enabling Boeing to retain the flexibility needed to run the business ... and allows us to remain competitive."

The walkout came amid surging demand for Boeing's commercial jetliners, which include 737s, 747s, 767s and 777s.

Chicago-based Boeing, which ranks as the world's second-largest commercial airplane maker after Europe's Airbus, has said its order backlog has swollen to a record $349 billion in value.

The strike also further postponed the delivery of Boeing's long-awaited 787 jetliner, which has already been delayed three times, and other commercial planes.

It remains unclear how long it would take Boeing's commercial aircraft business to return to pre-strike production levels, but the company's chief financial officer, James Bell, has said Boeing hopes it would take less than two months.

The walkout started as the global economy began sinking into turmoil. Boeing executives have said only 10 percent of the company's orders come from domestic carriers, while the rest are placed by customers in other parts of the world, particularly Asia.

As the Machinists strike wore on, Boeing began talks with another union in hopes of avoiding a second strike by 21,000 scientists, engineers, manual writers, technicians and other hourly workers.

Boeing officials and representatives of the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace, which struck for 40 days in 2000, moved into the final phase of contract talks Wednesday. The union's two current contracts expire Dec. 1.

Negotiators at a hotel outside Seattle say they hope to present a proposal to that union's membership by mid-November.

A380 service expands as the 21st century flagship marks its first year of operations

A380 service expands as the 21st century flagship marks its first year of operations 25 October 2008
		The A380 has set new standards for passenger comfort during its initial year of revenue airline service, providing reliable long-range flights to destinations in Singapore, Australia, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, England and the United States.  On today's first anniversary of the A380's entry in service, a total of nine A380s are now in the fleets of Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Qantas. Singapore Airlines introduced A380 operations on 25 October 2007, and currently has a total of six aircraft. This was followed by Emirates of the United Arab Emirates, which started flights in August 2008 and has two A380s in its inventory. Qantas inaugurated service earlier this month with the Australian-based carrier's first-delivered A380.  All three airlines have chosen cabin layouts that benefit from the A380's spacious two main decks and its new technology, and which allow operators to offer high levels of service for all passengers.  Singapore Airlines' A380 layout has a total of 471 seats in three classes of service. The Singapore Airlines Suites - offered exclusively on the A380 - provide a private space with its largest seat ever: an armchair with adjustable headrest and armrests. Included in the suite is a stand-alone bed, topped off with a turn-down service, fine linen and full-sized pillows.  In Singapore Airlines' New Business Class, the A380 seats are the widest in their category, with each leather seat unfolding to the largest full-flat bed of its type. Singapore Airlines' New Economy Class has roomier seats and the widest choice of on-demand entertainment options, presented on a 10.6-inch-wide LCD screen.  The Emirates A380 configuration is with a 14-seat First Class cabin, 76 seats in Business Class and a 399-seat Economy Class. This arrangement includes the First Class Shower Spa: two fully-equipped bathrooms in its First Class cabins with shower facilities. The A380 also has an Emirates Onboard Lounge in the Business Class cabin for use by both First and Business Class passengers, which is designed to make travellers feel like they are in their own executive club. Another First Class social area and bar is located at the front of the upper deck.  In Emirates' A380 Economy Class cabin, straight walls give the impression of increased spaciousness, and this feature - combined with an advanced mood lighting system and the Airbus 21st century jetliner's noticeably quieter cabin - works to combat the effects of jetlag.  Qantas' A380 is configured with 450 seats in four cabins: 14 in First Class, 72 in Business Class, 32 in Premium Economy and 332 in Economy Class. The 14 single private suites in First Class feature a 17-inch wide-screen LCD video monitor, a unique touch-screen control unit, and a seat that swivels into a comfortable armchair and a fully flat, extra long and wide bed.  The next generation of Qantas' award-winning Business Class Skybed sleeper seat offers an extra-long, fully lie-flat bed with ergonomically-enhanced cushioning, a larger in-arm entertainment screen, additional storage options and more privacy. Qantas' Premium Economy seats have fully adjustable, in-arm digital widescreen television monitors. A self-service bar is dedicated to the upper-deck Premium Economy cabin. For Economy Class, the A380's seats feature a sliding base that moves with the seatback to create a more comfortable, ergonomically-tested position to aid sleep and eliminate pressure points, along with a foot net to stop sliding during sleep.  For more information on the A380's first year in commercial service, see the press release in the Press centre.

Airbus takes part in the European City of Science at the Grand Palais in Paris, from 14 to 16 November 2008

Airbus takes part in the European City of Science at the Grand Palais in Paris, from 14 to 16 November 2008  28 October 2008

Airbus will be taking part in the European City of Science between 14 and 16 November 2008, at the Grand Palais in Paris. Airbus will present research and innovation projects, carried out in European partnerships, as part of Airbus' eco-efficient commitment to the environment.  Organised by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research during the French Presidency of the European Union, the European City of Science will be the launch event for the 2008 Science Festival.  In order to satisfy the expectations of an ever-greater audience passionate about the sciences and technologies of the future, Airbus has chosen to exhibit eight Research and Technology projects - in progress or already completed - in the framework of far-reaching European or international partnerships, such as: ILDAS (In-Flight Lightning Strike Damage Assessment System) to monitor aircraft lightening strike.  AWIATOR (Aircraft Wing with Advanced Technology Operation) illustrates the research in the area of wing aerodynamics for designing greener aircraft (reduced noise and fuel consumption).  Clean Sky Smart Fixed Wing Aircraft is one of the components of the Clean Sky research programme aiming to reduce significantly the environmental impact of air transport (integration of new power-plant concepts and of technologies to improve aerodynamic performance).  SILENCE® has led to the development of a new rivet-free - and therefore quieter - engine air intake, used on the A380.  ALCAS focuses on the manufacture of composite material structures, such as the centre wing box, aiming to optimise the manufacturing process and choose the best-suited materials in order to lower production and maintenance costs, while introducing weight savings in the structures.  OPTIMAL examines environmental issues, concentrating on operational aspects such as improving aircraft trajectories in the vicinity of airports in order to reduce the noise footprint on the ground.  The NACRE project on the aircraft of the future studies new concepts for tomorrow's aircraft, taking into account user demands, respect for the environment and technological advances.  The VIVACE project (Collaborative Engineering at the service of aircraft) has made it possible to improve cooperation between partners with different languages and cultures by putting in place specific tools. It has laid the foundations for a "collaborative" engineering environment particularly well suited to the context of the extended enterprise. Sensitive to its position as an industry leader, Airbus strives to be an eco-efficient enterprise. To that end Airbus is the first aeronautics company in the world to have earned the ISO 14001 environmental certification for all production sites and products for the entire life cycle. Airbus seeks to ensure that air transport continues to be an eco-efficient means of transport, delivering economic value while minimizing its environmental impact.  Airbus is an EADS company.