The FINANCIAL — Affiliate Sun-Air opens oneworld's first domestic Norwegian route: oneworld is now offering domestic flights within Norway through affiliate Sun-Air, which flies in Scandinavia as an affiliate of British Airways.
It has added Stord to the alliance's network and is serving the Norwegian west coast port – which has the three-letter IATA code SRP – from both the nation's capital Norway up to three times a day and from Aarhus in Denmark twice a week.
Up-grades to oneworld's Tokyo Narita Terminal 2 hub complete: A US$170 million programme of improvements at oneworld's Tokyo Narita Terminal 2 hub has now been completed, with the facility's entire check-in area refurbished, new security screening process introduced and easier-to-read flight information displays installed.
American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Finnair and Qantas all operate alongside Japan Airlines from the terminal, with their check-in desks centrally located close to the entrance to security screening. All offer their premium customers completely new or enhanced and enlarged lounges on departure.
In line with the up-grading of the building, minimum connecting times (MCTs) between most oneworld flights have also been reduced:
From Japan Airlines' domestic flights to its own international services, along with those operated by American, is now just 60 minutes.
Between American and JAL's international flights is now 70 minutes.
From American's international to JAL's domestic is now 90 minutes.
From JAL's domestic arrivals to departures by other oneworld partners in the terminal is now 100 minutes.
BA completes its move into London Heathrow Terminal 5: British Airways has completed its move into its new London Heathrow home with the final phase of its transfer of operations into Terminal 5.
The only BA services remaining at Terminal 4 are its flights for Australia, via Bangkok and Singapore, which will move, along with Qantas operations, to Terminal 3 during 2009. The final BA operations in Terminal 1 – to Barcelona, Helsinki, Lisbon, Madrid and Nice – are due to switch to Terminal 3 early next year too, with Finnair and Iberia will also move to Terminal 3, from Terminals 1 and 2 respectively, at the same time.
All other oneworld on-line carriers – American Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines and Royal Jordanian – are already based in Terminal 3.
Iberia up-grades domestic Business Class: Iberia is up-grading its Business Class on its Spanish domestic flights from 1 December to a standard more similar to that currently offered on its international shorthaul flights.
On all routes operated by Airbus A319s, A320s and A321s within mainland Spain and serving the Canary and Balearic Islands, the central chair in each block of three seats will be left empty to provide more room and comfort for passengers seated either side. All chairs are covered in leather with rounded backs designed to maximize comfort and space.
Passengers have a more generous check-in baggage allowance and earn more frequent flyer points. On the ground, they can use Business Class check-in counters and airport lounges.
Qantas takes oneworld into A380 era: oneworld has entered the Airbus A380 era, with Qantas operating the super jumbo on its debut commercial services. It is now flying the new superjumbo to Los Angeles from both Sydney and Melbourne, with London, via Singapore, to follow from January. The aircraft is configured with 450 seats in four cabins – 14 in First Class, 72 in Business, 32 in Premium Economy and 332 in Economy.
Dragonair adds Hanoi to its network: Affiliate member Dragonair has launched daily services between its Hong Kong hub and Hanoi.
Royal Jordanian to reopen Brussels route: Royal Jordanian is to resume flights to Brussels from 1 April after a six-year break. It will serve the Belgian capital non-stop from its Amman hub with an initial two Airbus A319s a week. Brussels is already on the oneworld network through services by American Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, and Malév Hungarian Airlines.
BA to add third daily flight to Budapest base of oneworld partner Malév: British Airways is to add a third daily flight between its London Heathrow hub and the Budapest base of oneworld partner Malév Hungarian Airlines from late March. It will also add daily frequencies between London Heathrow and Athens, Lisbon, Nice, Prague and Rome. Schedules to Dubai will rise from 14 to 20 a week, and to Johannesburg from 14 to 19 a week.
Finnair to raise Tokyo frequencies to daily: Finnair is to increase frequencies between its Helsinki home and the Tokyo Narita hub of oneworld partner Japan Airlines to daily from 2010 – and reaffirmed plans to serve all its Asian gateways with daily flights. It currently operates four services a week to Narita.
Iberia to increase Central American schedules: Iberia is increasing frequencies to Guatemala and Panama with a fifth weekly service from 4 January as part of changes which increase its capacity to Central America by 6.5 per cent year-on-year.
BA to move Atlanta and Toulouse routes from London Gatwick to Heathrow: British Airways is to move its London flights serving Atlanta and Toulouse from Gatwick to its new Heathrow Terminal 5 base from 29 March.
Customers can now buy tickets via AA.com using PayPal: American Airlines is now allowing customers in the USA to use PayPal to pay for tickets on AA.com
BA now lets passengers to check-in via mobile phones: British Airways is now enabling customers to check-in via their mobile phones.
Cathay passengers can now print their own boarding passes: Cathay Pacific now enables passengers flying from its Hong Kong hub to print their own boarding passes after check-in on-line up to 48 hours before departure.
Iberia website is first to let customers ask where they can fly for how much: Iberia has added a novel new interactive tool to its website – as the first airline in the world enabling customers to search out where they could fly to on a specific budget. It lets them stipulate around when and where they are interested in travelling. So customers just need to enter their preferred:
Airport of departure.
Destination, by geographical area – such as "Europe" or "Spanish coasts" – or by city
Dates of departure and return within a range of seven days, or the most advantageous combination available within a 30-day period.
Finally, they need to indicate the maximum amount they are willing to spend on their air fare.
The website instantly displays a map showing the search results – and the customer can make a reservation and buy a ticket from the same page. They can also book a hotel, rental car, transport to or from an airport and guided tours at the same time. Members of the airline's Iberia Plus frequent flyer programme will gain double points for booking this way.
The system if ideal for finding the cheapest flights on up-coming weekends, departing on Fridays and returning on Sundays, with the option of extending the search to include outgoing Thursday flights and/or return flights on Mondays.
JAL to offer First Class to Delhi: Japan Airlines is to offer a First Class cabin on its flights between its Tokyo Narita hub and Delhi from 11 January.
American Airlines moves terminals at Raleigh/Durham: American Airlines has relocated operations at Raleigh/Durham to its new Terminal 2 from Terminal C. It now occupies eight of the north concourse's 19 gates, with 12 ticket counter positions and 12 self-service check-in kiosks and has opened a new Admirals Club lounge. With its American Eagle regional affiliate, it operates more than 50 daily departures from the airport.
JAL posts English-language version of its popular interactive Tokyo map: Japan Airlines has posted on www.jal.com a new English-language version of its popular interactive map of Tokyo. Ideal for both tourists and business travelers to the Japanese capital, it includes bird's eye views of the city centre and surrounding areas, and more detailed maps of the major tourist areas, from Akasaka to Ueno. The easy-to-use guide also features a wealth of regularly up-dated information on where to shop, eat or stay and what to see.
American Airlines recruits British royal family's chef: American Airlines has recruited the former chef to the British Royal family to help develop menus for its First and Business Class passengers on its flights from Europe. Darren McGrady spent 15 years cooking for Queen Elizabeth II and her family before serving as Private Chef to Diana, Princess of Wales. Dishes he has created for American Airlines include a range of British favourites with international appeal, such as cottage pie, stuffed chicken and oatmeal-crusted pork.
