JAL Increases Cargo Fuel Surcharge
Posted July 14, 2009 , add a commentJapan Airlines has applied to the Japanese
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to revise
from August 1, 2009, its international cargo fuel surcharge for
flights departing from Japan only.
The international cargo
fuel surcharge on long-haul international routes will increase
from 45 yen to 66 yen per kg, on medium-haul international routes,
increase from 39 to 57 yen per kg, and on short-haul routes from
33 yen to 48 yen per kg.
Since April 1, 2009, JAL
started adjusting its fuel surcharge levels on a monthly basis by
using the one-month average fuel price of Singapore kerosene of
the month before last.
As the average fuel price of Singapore
kerosene in June 2009 was US$76.54 per barrel, the benchmark fuel
price used for calculation of the fuel surcharge level in August
will be within the range of US$75.00 to US$79.99 per barrel, resulting in this
latest fuel surcharge increment.
MSC Cruises’ New Flagship - Splendida - to be Christened on Sunday
Posted , add a commentMSC Cruises’ impressive new flagship MSC
Splendida will be christened in suitably splendid style by screen
legend Sophia Loren on Sunday 12 July 2009, in Barcelona (Spain).
The arrival of MSC Splendida brings the number of
ships in the MSC Cruises fleet to ten. She and sister ship MSC
Fantasia, launched in Naples last December, are the largest ships
ever built by a European ship owner. Each capable of carrying
3,959 passengers, these “floating cities” are 333m long, 66.8m
tall and weigh 137,936 metric tons.
Featuring a
performance by Flamenco dance troupe Los Vivancos and a
spectacular display of Castells, the Catalan tradition of human
towers, the evening’s entertainment will also include a special
concert by world famous tenor Jos? Carreras. Performing in his
hometown, the Maestro will be accompanied by the 60 musicians of
the Orquestra Simf?nica del Vall?s.
Completing the
colourful ceremony will be a parade of the ships’ officers and, of
course, the traditional cutting of the ribbon by the godmother of
the MSC Cruises fleet, Sophia Loren.
Air France’s First A380 to Seat 538 in Three Class Layout
Posted , add a commentAir France’s first Airbus A380 this week moved a
step closer to delivery. The aircraft, which has just been
painted with the airline’s new livery in Hamburg, will start
operating a daily Paris-Charles de Gaulle - New York-JFK route in
November 2009.
Air France is the first European airline to
offer its customers the comfort of the Airbus A380 super jumbo, and the first
airline to offer transatlantic flights between Europe and America
on this new very wide-bodied aircraft.
On board Air France’s first A380, there will be three cabin
classes capable of seating a total of 538 passengers: 80 in the Affaires
cabin and 106 in Voyageur (economy) on the upper deck, 9 in the
Premi?re cabin and 343 in Voyageur on the main deck.
Equipped with four GP7200 engines specially
designed by Engine Alliance, the Air France A380 will carry passengers over a maximum distance of 13,000 kms.
“The A380, particularly well-suited to the
current economic context, will enable Air France to offer its
customers an even better quality of service whilst at the same
time limiting costs. This aircraft is also in line with Air
France’s aim to reduce its carbon emissions. We are looking
forward to welcoming the A380 into our fleet,” said Pierre-Henri Gourgeon, CEO of Air France.
Air France has 12 Airbus A380s on order, four of
which are scheduled to start operating in winter 2009 and spring 2010.
Depending on configuration, the A380 could, if
an airline desired, seat an absolute maximum of just over 800
passengers.
Orient-Express launches Promotions Around Asia
Posted , add a commentOrient-Express is matching competitively priced
air fares around South East Asia with tailor-made packages to suit
a range of tastes and preferences at its six resorts in Bali,
Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.
For the spa addict,
hours of indulgent pampering and yoga twinned with first-hand
experience of the magical spirituality and culture of Bali are on
offer in the ‘Bali Harmony’ package at Ubud
Hanging Gardens.
The package also
includes a private guided tour to sacred Balinese villages, a
special private picnic and two 3-course dinners for two for those
booking at least five nights. The deluxe villas have their own
private infinity pools overlooking terraced gardens and
spectacular lush green scenery, with prices starting from US$456.
A ‘Romantic Hideaway‘ package on the beautiful
white sands at Jimbaran Puri Bali is
designed for couples looking for privacy and intimacy.
The Romantic Hideaway showcases the resort’s
ew thatched villas (one or two bedrooms), each with
their own private swimming pools set in a traditional
Balinese garden with courtyard, and comes complete with
a romantic two-hour ‘Balinese Spa Delight’ treatment for
two plus sparkling wine and sunset dinner at the
resort’s Beachfront restaurant. Rates start at US$457 a
night including daily breakfast.
If nostalgic
journeys of olden-day romance, conjure up images of timeless
elegant of train travel, meander through the heart of Asia with
the Eastern & Oriental Express train. Packages vary from one to
three nights and include sumptuous 3-course dinners, delightful
afternoon teas and absolute romantic chivalry.
Book selected Singapore-Bangkok or Bangkok-Singapore journeys now
and receive two free nights at the 5 star Mandarin Oriental Hotel
(or similar hotel) in Singapore, two free nights at the 5 star
Peninsula Hotel (or similar hotel) in Bangkok - plus all station
transfers. Prices start from US$2,210.
A
‘Family Package’ caters for couples
with children at the Napasai in Koh Samui, Thailand.
The promotion includes a day-long island tour for four, Thai carving
classes for the family, one private villa dinner and one dinner at
the resort’s Thai restaurant. Adults are pampered with Thai
massages and children are treated to an ‘Angel Bliss’ massage.
Round trip airport transfers are also included. Prices for a
minimum stay of four nights start from US$490 for a Garden Cottage
Suite or US$880 for a two-bedroom private pool villa.
For culture fiends, La Residence d’Angkor at Siem
Reap in Cambodia takes guests on a voyage of
‘Cultural Discovery’ around one of the most
beautiful and beguiling landscapes in the world, famed for world
famous man-made wonder Angkor Wat.
Priced from US$234 per
night in a delightful Riverside Room, the package includes entry
to Angkor Wat with a private full-day tour guide, as well as a
private picnic, three-course dinner and airport transfers.
In August 2009, Orient-Express will re-launch its
ultimate cultural exploration, the Road To Mandalay.
Cruising the Ayeyarwady River from the pagoda city of Bagan and royal Mandalay
this breathtaking voyage through Burma can be enjoyed for three,
four or seven nights, with the option of additional nights in
historic Yangon, Ngapali and Inle Lake.
After an
extensive 12 month refurbishment by teams of local craftsmen, the
river boat launches with even more understated glamour and
grandeur, but moreover spectacular scenery and a once in a
lifestyle travel experience. Book any cruise departing prior to
April 2010 before 30th September and receive a complimentary
2-night Yangon Extension at the luxurious Governor’s Residence
Hotel, plus transfers and sight seeing tours before or after your
cruise.
Set amongst the mountains in Luang
Prabang, Laos, La Residence Phou Vao has a great value
‘Stay
Another Day’ package where guests staying three nights earn a
complimentary fourth night – plus the three nights will be
pre-discounted by 25%. Also included in this package is
daily breakfast and a morning spa treatment for two in a private
villa, complete with steam bath, subject to availability.
Jet Airways to Increase Flights between Mumbai and Bangkok
Posted , add a commentIndia’s Jet Airways is to add a second daily
service to Bangkok from Mumbai aboard its state-of-the-art Boeing
737-800 aircraft, effective August 16, 2009.
The airline currently operates a daily service
to Bangkok from Mumbai, as well as from Delhi and Kolkata.
Effective August 16, 2009, flight 9W 68 will depart Mumbai at
13:05, arriving in Bangkok at 18:55. Flight 9W 67 will then
depart Bangkok at 20:55, arriving in Mumbai at 23:40.
Jet Airways currently flies to 18 international destinations,
including New York (both JFK and Newark), Toronto, Brussels,
London (Heathrow), Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Colombo,
Bangkok, Kathmandu, Dhaka, Kuwait, Bahrain, Muscat, Doha, Abu
Dhabi and Dubai.