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Brussels, 11.01.2005 - The Association of European Airlines, representing 31 major European scheduled airlines, has announced that Fernando Pinto, Chief Executive of TAP-Air Portugal, will chair the Association in 2005. Mr Pinto’s appointment was confirmed at the AEA Presidents’ Assembly which took place in Vienna on November 12th 2004. Mr Pinto is a highly-respected figure in the aviation world, having successfully led the national airline in his native Brazil, Varig, before being appointed to the top job in TAP in October 2000. Fernando Pinto takes the AEA’s helm from Vagn Soerensen, CEO of Austrian, whose Chairmanship was marked by the launch of the AEA’s Action Plan for the next five years, a comprehensive programme addressing the fundamental structural deficiencies which stand in the way of a sustainably profitable European airline industry. Said Mr Pinto: “The Action Plan is a crucially important programme, aimed at developing a political consensus on what needs to be done to place our industry on a sound footing, enabling it to maintain its contribution to Europe’s prosperity and global competitiveness. An enormous amount of groundwork was done in 2004 to produce it; it is my task in 2005 to ensure that its messages are carried forcefully to our regulators”. The Association of European Airlines is a Brussels-based lobbying organisation, which in 2004 will have represented the European airline industry for 50 years. It, brings together 31 major airlines, who collectively carry more than 300 million passengers each year, employ over 350,000 staff and operate more than 2,500 aircraft. For further information, please contact:
From 1 February 2005, booking flights over the website of the Austrian Airlines Group
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Vagn Soerensen, Chief Executive Officer of the Austrian Airlines Group, made the following statement on this fare innovation, the latest in a series to emerge from the company: 'The silverticket is an attractive offer to our Austrian and international corporate customers which will enable them to travel in Business Class comfort at Economy Class fares with immediate effect. Our product differentiation has taken another important step forward with the help of the price/performance ratio, moreover, enabling the ever-increasing numbers of corporate customers to enjoy travelling in the exclusive Austrian Business Class.' On journey distances graded according to journey distance and corresponding to the basic full fare Economy price (maximum Economy Class fare), the passenger will be offered a free upgrade to Austrian Business Class at the time of booking. The silverticket – upgrade to business concept is offered on all short-haul and medium-haul flights provided by the Austrian Airlines Group. The customer then has the option of accepting the invitation to the free Business upgrade and the host of associated services, including faster check-in, more rapid security controls in the fast lane in Vienna, access to the exclusive airport lounge area, an exquisite range of food and drinks when on board, the crediting of business miles, greater seating comfort and the maximum possible travel flexibility. Chief Commercial Officer Dr. Josef E. Burger commented as follows on the introduction of the new product: 'With our silverticket for the business class and its associated product, the redticket we have sought to introduce a system which can be tailored to suit the needs of all passengers - the right product for every reason for travelling. Both tickets will enable passengers to travel at the best available price conditions in either class. With the silverticket, passengers will now once again have the opportunity to travel in Business Class, according to the higher price they have paid. We fully expect to sell in Europe around 200,000 silvertickets in 2005.' Reserved for your Comfort The Austrian Bestprice offers:
Finnair is the only airline in Nordic Countries to soon have lie-flat beds on its whole long-haul fleet. Thanks to the renewal Business Class passengers will be able to spend their journey in even greater comfort than before. The installations will begin in December this year and be completed in February 2006.
In addition to the lie-flat beds, improvements also include the complete renewal of Boeing MD-11 entertainment system display units. New LCD monitor technology will also be used to enhance the enjoyment of movies and entertainment programmes for Economy Class passengers. Finnair operates six Boeing MD-11 aircraft on a total of 140 monthly return long-haul flights to Bangkok, Tokyo, Osaka, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore and New York. This winter season Finnair also flies to Miami and a new destination, Guangzhou in China, will be added to the network in September. Additional information:
* Free for business and first class passenger and holders of Iberia Plus Gold, Platinum and Club Fiesta cards Madrid, January 14th, 2005 - Iberia, as part of its commitment to improve quality, is offering new free services to its best customers at Madrid's Barajas Airport. The new services are massage and beauty treatments, including neck, scalp, and tired leg massages, hairdo retouching, makeup, facial tanning, and manicure. Iberia's first and business class passengers and holders of Iberia Plus Gold, Platinum and Club Fiesta cards can enjoy these services at no charge, and get a 15% discount on other services, such as hairdressing, massage, tanning, and facial treatments. Iberia Plus Platinum and Club Fiesta cardholders may also invite a guest, as long as the guest has flown with Iberia in any seating class on that day or, in the case of an intercontinental flight, the previous one. To get these treatments, customers need show their boarding cards and Iberia Plus cards, along with the Spanish airline's frequent flyer card. Iberia and Air Beauty are now offering these massage, hairdressing and beauty treatment services at the "La Paloma" hall in Terminal 2 of the Madrid-Barajas Airport. New installations will soon be opened in Terminals 1 and 4 of the airport. For further information:
Madrid, January 27th, 2005 - Fitur 2005, Spain’s great holiday and travel industry show window to the world, is also a showcase of the innovations that Iberia is introducing this year, which are especially numerous and oriented toward the customer. The new Business Plus class that the company launching next Spring on its long-haul routes, is present at the Fitur fair. The new seats, tableware and linen, among other elements, can be admired at Iberia’s stand. In addition, the company’s web site, www.iberia.com, that has consistently generated more sales than any other commercial web site in Spain, has undergone a complete remake, with new features, including a special area for the press. This year Iberia is also introducing new destinations. The company is expanding toward the East, and is launching new routes to Moscow and Beirut. It will continue to strengthen its presence in Latin America, a market in which it is leader. At Iberia’s stand at Fitur, visitors can also learn about the airline's new facilities for its customers: Auto check-in machines (where passengers can obtain their own boarding cards); check-in machines for the walk-on Madrid-Barcelona Puente Aéreo shuttle; Iberia.com, Iberia Plus, Serviberia and the European Call Centre. In this regard, this year Iberia intends to add the option of checking in on-line, and of auto check-in with luggage. It also plans to launch the e-ticket for the Puente Aéreo shuttle. Lastly, the company’s stand features a space in which visitors can learn about another fundamental aspect of Iberia’s business --aircraft maintenance—. A Rolls-Royce engine and other aircraft components are on display there. Iberia today is Spain’s leading airline and also market leader on Europe-Latin America routes. With 2003 revenues of 4.62 billion euros, net earnings of 146 million euros and operating earnings of more than 160 million euros, Iberia is Europe’s most profitable scheduled airline. At the same time it is distinguished by its social, economic, and environmental policies, which were rewarded in 2004 by Iberia’s inclusion in the Dow Jones Stoxx sustainability index. Iberia’s commitment to the integration of disabled people in the workplace has made it one of the three companies best perceived for its social policies in 2003, and number one in employee cooperation programmes, according to the independent Enterprise and Society Foundation. Together with its franchise partner Iberia Regional, Iberia completes about 1,000 flights each day to about 100 destinations. In 2003 Iberia carried a total of 29.17 million passengers and 214,000 tonnes of cargo. It is a member of the oneworld airline alliance along with Aer Lingus, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, LAN and Qantas.
Added to these features are others which ensure the passenger’s independence and tranquillity on board: 152 centimetres of separation between rows, and a personal space that includes compartments for drinks and for shoes and other personal items, an adjustable-intensity reading light with a privacy separator panel, and a night light under the seat to create the most appropriate atmosphere at each moment. Be Entertained, Relax, or Work on Board Iberia’s new Business Plus class also features the most advanced technological equipment: a satellite telephone that allows passengers to communicate with anyone at any time, a laptop connection port for those who must continue working, and the capacity to send text messages to cell phones or e-mail addresses from an individual. 10.4-inch touch screen built into the seat. On this screen the passenger can choose from a wide range of entertainment options during the flight. Music lovers can choose among 15 audio channels with all possible rhythms: classical, opera, Zarzuela (Spanish light opera), jazz, the latest Spanish and international hits, and much more. The 26 video channels include six different interactive games, the best documentaries, the latest film releases, world maps on different scales and flight data, plus information for passengers who will be making connecting flights to other destinations. And something which will certainly impress the most curious: live images taking form a camera situated on the exterior of the aircraft, providing a novel and complete view of airports and airspace. The entertainment options are “a la carte”, since passengers themselves choose starting times for viewings, just as if they were sitting at home holding a remote and watching videos. Mediterranean Diet and Spanish Wines Aboard In the new Business Plus class all details are important, and for this reason Iberia takes such pains over its in-flight meal service, with menus based on Spanish products and the Mediterranean diet. Iberian cured ham, salads dressed with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and Spanish meats garnishes with the best vegetables and accompanied by the most distinguished regional wines of Spain –the reds include Ribera del Duero, Rioja, and Somontano, and whites include Penedés and Somontano. Non-Stop Bar and Snack Service In addition, the new Business Plus cabin features a self-service bar where passengers can choose freely among the numerous drinks and snack options. In sum, a painstaking service with a broad range of features that place Iberia’s new Business Plus at the forefront of business classes. For further information:
Lufthansa and TAP Air Portugal starting extensive cooperation as of February
20.01.2005 - An extensive strategic cooperation was announced by TAP Air Portugal and Lufthansa today in Lisbon.As of 1st February 2005, the two airlines will offer code-sharing flights, in other words, in each case with the flight numbers of both airlines. These flights can be booked immediately via the reservation systems. Members of the airlines’ frequent flyer programmes, Miles and More and Navigator, can collect miles as of 1st February 2005 on flights of the respective other airline. The redemption of miles with the respective other airline will be made possible by the admission of TAP to the Star Alliance which is scheduled for spring 2005. The code-share services will initially include the following:
Both partners intend to extend the code-sharing to further destinations. As of 1st February 2005, TAP will transfer its operations and passenger check-in facilities to the Star Alliance/Lufthansa terminals at Frankfurt Airport (Terminal 1) and at Munich Airport (Terminal 2), in order to provide its passengers with rapid and convenient transfers between TAP and Lufthansa as well as the other partner airlines. Deutsche Lufthansa AG
Four new routes opened to China with plans for two more: oneworld's member airlines are substantially increasing their services to China, which is widely forecast to be one of the world's fastest growing aviation markets. While Cathay Pacific continues to build its Hong Kong hub into a major gateway for the region, the alliance's partners have announced plans for four new routes to the mainland this year, with approvals for two more awaited. British Airways aims to be the third oneworld carrier to serve Shanghai. It intends to start flights between the commercial powerhouse and its London Heathrow hub during the northern hemisphere summer, with Boeing 777s five times a week. Qantas inaugurated thrice-weekly Airbus A330-300 services there from Sydney last month. Finnair also flies there from Helsinki. American Airlines and Cathay Pacific are both also seeking rights to serve the city, while the Hong Kong carrier starts serving it with daily freighters from the end of January. As previously announced, Guangzhou will become the alliance's fourth destination in the country when Finnair links the southern city with its Helsinki hub three times a week from 2 September, following Cathay Pacific's entry at Xiamen (see separate story above). Cathay Pacific has also recently increased frequencies between Hong Kong and Beijing to daily, and has rights to double that schedule from late March. British Airways will also up its services to the Chinese capital from London Heathrow, to six a week from June, when its Hong Kong flights will rise to 21 a week. Finnair also serves Beijing. American to add two Irish links: American Airlines is to launch its own flights to Ireland, home country of oneworld partner Aer Lingus. In the latest phase of its international expansion, AA will operate non-stops between its Chicago O'Hare hub and Aer Lingus' Dublin base and between Boston and Shannon, from 1 May. Both routes will operate daily during the summer peak and five days a week for the rest of the year. It will use two-class 211-seat Boeing 767-300s on the Dublin service and Boeing 757s with a single main cabin of 188 seats on Shannon. AA currently code-shares on Aer Lingus flights on both these routes and on the latter's routes to New York JFK and Los Angeles. Iberia confirms launch dates for new Beirut and Moscow routes: Iberia has confirmed the launch dates for its new services to Beirut and Moscow. Both will be served from its Madrid hub. The Russian capital will join its network first, with daily non-stops from 13 March, operating to and from Domodedovo airport, which is also used by oneworld partner British Airways. The only other alliance member operating to Moscow, Finnair, serves its other gateway, Sheremetyevo. Beirut, which is already served by oneworld affiliate BMED operating as a BA franchise, will start receiving Iberia services from 28 March, with three flights a week. Iberia will use Airbus A319s on both routes. Finnair and Iberia are 21st pair of partners to offer interline e-ticketing: Finnair and Iberia are the latest combination of oneworld carriers to introduce interline e-ticketing (IET), with the alliance now just weeks away from the completion of the roll-out of this service between all member airlines. IET is now in place between 21 of the potential 28 pairs of partners. Qantas last month joined American Airlines and British Airways in completing IET links with all oneworld partners. Both Finnair and Iberia now have just two more cut overs to make with other airlines in the alliance. The Nordic carrier aims to connect with Aer Lingus and LAN in the next few weeks, with the Spanish partner planning to follow suit with Cathay Pacific and also Aer Lingus. This keeps oneworld on track to be the first of the global alliances offering this customer convenience throughout their groupings. Already more than 90 per cent of passengers transferring between oneworld carriers can do so with just one electronic ticket. Interline e-ticketing offers customers many advantages. It means they can be ticketed right through to their final destinations on journeys involving a transfer between carriers with no need for a paper ticket, making connections between carriers smoother, easier and more reliable. They can also rebook between airlines without having to obtain a paper ticket first, saving time and hassle. AA serves up new 'food on board' options: American Airlines is to provide in-flight food in its Coach (economy) cabin on 200 more of its US domestic flights a day from 1 February. Coach passengers on domestic flights longer than three hours will be offered snacks or sandwiches for sale, rather the "bistro bags" the airline currently provides free on just some services. The change is based on extensive feedback from customers in trials carried out earlier this year. Coach customers will be able to buy for US$3 in-flight snack boxes containing a range of brand-name items. On longer flights, US$5 sandwiches or wraps will also be available. Initially, only cash will be accepted for transactions, but American is investigating the ability to accept credit and debit cards in the future. Meals in First Class will remain complimentary, although special meals will no longer be available on non-transcontinental flights. oneworld in brief: oneworld brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business - American Airlines, British Airways, Qantas, Iberia, Cathay Pacific, LAN, Finnair and Aer Lingus - enabling them to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. These include a broader route network, opportunities to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles and points across the combined oneworld network and more airport lounges. Together, its members serve 600 destinations in 135 countries. oneworld was voted the world's best airline alliance by readers of Business Traveller magazine in its 2004 poll and the World's Leading Airline Alliance for the second year running in the latest World Travel Awards, based on votes cast by80,000 travel agency professionalsfrom more than 200 countries. Note: LAN affiliate LAN ECUADOR is not a member of oneworld.
“This award encourages us to continue down the chosen path”, Executive Vice President Commercial Philip Saunders says. “Passionate About You is more than a simple publicity slogan for our company ; it expresses the motivation of the entire SN team, highly appreciated by our growing number of customers – last year we welcomed nine percent more passengers. In the weeks to come we plan to launch once again a most unique advertising campaign.” Some months ago SN was elected “short-haul airline of the year” by the Belgian travel trade. SkyTrax - the “Michelin” of the airline industry as it were -awarded the SN service with 4 stars. For more information, please contact :
En 2004, SN Brussels Airlines a accueilli 9% de passagers de plus qu’en 2003. la compagnie belge s’attend également à une croissance du trafic passagers cette année. Grâce à de nombreuses initiatives lancées par SN ces derniers mois afin de réduire ses coûts, les tickets offerts vers 25 destinations européennes seront moins chers à partir de ce vendredi 7 janvier. Il ne s’agit pas ici de promotions mais bien d’une gamme tarifaire permanente encore plus avantageuse. En moyenne, les tarifs les plus avantageux « Best Buy » qui étaient offerts jusqu’à présent diminuent donc de 40%. Quelques exemples
Ces diminutions de prix n’empêcheront pas SN de conserver un service d’excellente qualité. Contrairement à de nombreuses compagnies aériennes, SN continuera à offrir à ses clients un service complet comprenant repas, boissons, journaux et sourires…De plus, SN déssert des aéroports situés à proximité des centres urbains afin d’épargner à ses clients des pertes de temps et d’argent pendant les transferts de et vers le centre ville. Pendant les 10 premiers mois de 2004, SN s’est classée dans le top 3 européen des compagnies les plus ponctuelles. (Statistiques officielles de l’ « Association of European Airlines »). “Grâce à ces nouveaux tarifs, nous offrons plus que jamais à nos clients le meilleur rapport qualité/prix.”, a déclaré Philip Saunders, Executive Vice President Commercial. Il a ajouté « Ceci démontre la capacité d’une compagnie aérienne « full service » à toujours mieux répondre aux attentes des passagers à la recherche du meilleur prix.” For more information, please contact :
For more info: VIRGIN EXPRESS
Airline Association heads representative of the global aviation industry met in Beirut on 12 January 2005 to discuss the need for a shared vision and streamlined regulation of the industry. Speaking on behalf of the group, the Chairman of the meeting, Mr. Abdul Wahab Teffaha, Secretary General of AACO, noted the invaluable role played by the airline industry in delivering safe, efficient and economic air travel, thus making an increasingly important contribution to the global economy. Mr. Teffaha expressed confidence in the continued growth of the industry and stressed the industry’s commitment to simplifying business procedures and offering improved services to passengers. In this context, he added that “we are resolutely working together with IATA to maximise the use of electronic ticketing and other initiatives to simplify the air travel system”. “But,” he went on to say, “we are concerned that many of the benefits which such developments will bring to passengers are being offset by the effects of ill-considered governmental regulations and their associated costs.” The group called upon governments and regulatory authorities to work with industry players towards a shared vision of the industry in the wider long-term interests of the travelling public. Mr. Teffaha said that “it should be a matter of common sense that any new regulations should be subject to a full assessment of their likely impact before being implemented. Likewise, unilaterally imposed safety and security initiatives, however well-intentioned, should be avoided as they create unjustified complexity without taking into consideration the situation existing in third countries affected by these measures. Careful attention should be given to national sovereignty and a multilateral approach should be favoured”. Where safety concerns exist, they should similarly be addressed through bilateral regulatory action. In conclusion the group reiterated its commitment to strengthening cooperation to streamline the aviation industry by identifying best regulatory practices for wider adoption. Participants also expressed concerns over air traffic congestion and the associated adverse environmental impact, which could be alleviated by additional investment in air transport infrastructure to facilitate more direct routings, continuous descent approaches and reduced holding delays. However, such investments must be accompanied by improved efficiency and cost reductions, and not higher user charges by monopoly service providers. The need to introduce more meaningful competition in the provision of such services is evident, failing which there is a clear justification for more effective economic regulation of such monopoly service providers. For further information, please contact:
Austrian Airlines receives prize from Business Traveller Award Deutschland
The Austrian Airlines Group has once again been voted one of the best airlines in Europe, and more specifically on its services to America, in the annual survey of readers of German magazine BUSINESS TRAVELLER (http://www.business-traveller.de). Austrian Airlines was awarded prizes in categories including ‘Cabin Comfort’, ‘Inflight Service’, ‘Cabin Staff’ and ‘Safety’, while business passengers also voted the company’s menu the best in the world on flights to North and South America. In the overall judgement, Austrian Airlines was voted number two amongst airlines flying to the Americas and for its services within Europe. The top Austrian chef Christian Petz, who is currently responsible for creating the exclusive Austrian Business Class menus, played an important role in earning the award for the best inflight menu on Austrian Business Class flights. The outstanding meals are prepared by world-renowned catering companies Airest and DO & CO. Austrian Airlines cabin attendants, who, in their role as ‘inflight sommeliers’, now advise passengers on their choice of wine, are responsible for the equally high-class inflight service. Every year, readers of the business travel magazine from the publishing house Perry Publications judge those airlines of which they have personal experience. The most important criteria for these judgements include safety, friendliness, cabin equipment, inflight catering and ground services. Almost 3,000 readers took part in last autumn’s vote, when Austrian Airlines took the much-coveted first prize. As a member of the Star Alliance, the Austrian Airlines Group carries its passengers to 130 destinations in 66 countries on five continents. 39 of these destinations are in Central and Eastern Europe, making the Austrian Airlines Group the biggest single provider of destinations in the region. For further information:
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