Business Traveller: July 2007 stories

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July 5 stories:

Lufthansa to launch all-business class service from Frankfurt to New York
Lufthansa is to add a Frankfurt-Newark service to its Business Jet offering from October 28. The German financial hub will join Dusseldorf in having a direct business-only service to New York
Full story...

European rail alliance aims to cut fares and simplify journeys
Rail passengers who travel through major European hubs could soon have less expensive and more seamless trips, thanks to a new alliance of high-speed rail operators. Railteam, an alliance of Deutsche Bahn, SNCF, SNCB, NS Hispeed, ÖBB, SBB and Eurostar UK, unveiled this week its new network which aims to compete with airlines for international travellers
Full story...

A matter of taste at 35,000 feet
It can take several years for an airline to come up with a new seat for regular travellers, but new menu concepts are a far more regular occurrence. This month, Thai Airways has teamed up with LSG Sky Chefs for a new food offering on flights out of London Heathrow
Full story...

AA offers triple miles for premium passengers, Virgin halves redemption requirements
The summer FFP promotions are here, with both AA and Virgin offering incentives to travel over the holiday period. AA is offering triple miles for premium passengers on its London-New York route, while Virgin has halved the miles required for economy redemptions on many of its routes
Full story...

Park Hyatt Madrid to get 40 million Euro facelift
Hotel Villa Magna, Park Hyatt's Madrid property, is to close for 14 months at the end of July for an extensive refurbishment. All public areas, guest rooms and leisure facilities are to be revamped at a cost of 40 million Euros, with the hotel due to reopen in October 2008
Full story...

Aloft announces new properties in Thailand and US
Starwood's lifestyle brand Aloft now has over 50 hotel developments confirmed, with the latest projects announced for Bangkok and Las Vegas
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12 July 2007 stories

American Airlines to fly Stansted to JFK from October
American Airlines has announced that it will launch daily services from London Stansted to New York's JFK from October 29, 2007. The new service will be operated by a two-class Boeing 767-300 aircraft with 221 seats including 30 new business class seats in a 2-2-2 configuration.
Full story...

Just make sure you die after leaving the country
For those of us who believe we live in a nanny (or big brother) state, welcome news of a lucky break will come next week. The new Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide bill is likely to be passed in the Lords and will clarify lines of responsibility for companies which require their employees to travel.
Full story...

Liverpool Street station to close for ten days over Christmas
There are still 166 days till Christmas, but regular flyers from Stansted Airport might want to ready themselves for disruption over the festive period. Network Rail has announced that Liverpool St station will be closed for engineering work from December 23 till January 2, 2008, leaving Stansted Express passengers to route their journey via Tottenham Hale
Full story...

L'Avion to double Paris-New York service, Silverjet launches its new flights with promo offer
All-business class carrier L'Avion is to double its service between Paris and New York this winter. The French airline says it has decided to launch a second flight because operations have "exceeded projections"
Full story...

Emirates launches revamped in-flight entertainment system
Dubai-based airline Emirates has launched a revamped version of its ICE in-flight entertainment system, called ICE Digital Widescreen. The new system is currently available on flights between Dubai and Paris, and will be fitted on 24 of the carrier's new aircraft coming into service over the next 18 months
Full story...

Japanese carriers spend a penny on in-flight bidets
When plans for the Airbus A380 super-jumbo were announced, there was optimistic talk of everything from showers to fitness centres being available on future long-haul flights. But it's Boeing that has taken in-flight amenities to a new level. This week news leaked (sorry) that bidets are to be fitted on forthcoming 787 Dreamliners flown by Japanese carriers ANA and JAL
Full story...

 

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19 July 2007 stories

Etihad adds second Oz route
Etihad Airways will add Brisbane to its growing Australia portfolio at the end of September. The carrier will begin three-times weekly flights via Singapore to Queensland's capital on September 28, using a two-class A330-200
Full story...

BA baggage woes continue at Heathrow, minimum connection time extended
Anyone who has travelled through Heathrow in the last couple of months is unlikely to have found it a pleasant experience. A combination of recent security alerts at UK airports, the temporary closure of T4 last week due to a suspect package, and the already onerous hand luggage restrictions is enough to make even the most patient of travellers seek alternative routes
Full story...

IRIS: 100,000 travellers now enrolled
There are few queues more annoying than the one at the end of a day's travelling. It is even more annoying when you are queuing to enter your own country. As a result, frequent travellers have been enrolling in the free biometric Iris Recognition Immigration Scheme (IRIS) to avoid lengthy immigration queues at UK airports
Full story...

New Concorde Hotel for Marseille
Concorde Hotels and Resorts has added a 19th hotel to its French portfolio, in Marseille, to open on September 1. The four-star Villa Massalia Concorde Marseille is located south of the city centre, overlooking the sea and around 35 minutes drive from the airport
Full story...

Flybe launches new loyalty scheme
Budget carrier Flybe has launched a new frequent flyer reward scheme called Rewards4all. The Exeter-based airline, which bought BA Connect earlier this year, has replaced its previous Passport to Freedom scheme (open to economy plus passengers only), with a programme for all customers
Full story...

Emirates launches Ahmedabad service
Middle Eastern carrier Emirates will start a six-times weekly service to Ahmedabad from October 28. The Dubai-based airline will serve India's sixth largest city with two aircraft types - a two-class Airbus A330-200 and a three-class Boeing 777-200
Full story...

 

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26 July 2007 stories

Qantas reveals A380 details
Qantas has revealed a detailed spec of its forthcoming A380 aircraft, which will include wifi internet access, a private upper-deck lounge for business class passengers, and the introduction of a new premium economy cabin
Full story...

United finally go flat out in business
United Airlines is to start fitting fully flat beds in business class from this autumn. The US carrier will gradually introduce the new seating over the next couple of years, across its fleet of 767, 747 and 777 aircraft
Full story...

Silverjet announces further delay to second New York flight
All-business class carrier Silverjet has announced the launch of its second daily flight to New York will now start on September 20, nearly three months behind schedule
Full story...

SIA to donate proceeds from first A380 flight to charity
Hot on the heels of Qantas' announcement of its A380 interiors, Singapore Airlines (SIA) has revealed that tickets for the first commercial flight of the superjumbo will be sold for charity
Full story...

Airlines' carbon offsetting schemes unsatisfactory
MPs expressed their dissatisfaction with the airline industry's attitude toward carbon offsetting in a report published this week. Most notably the report by the House of Commons environmental audit committee called British Airways' efforts to encourage carbon offsetting "risible"
Full story...

Lounging around
It's been a busy few weeks for new executive lounge openings around the globe – Business Traveller rounds up the latest offerings from Eos, Star Alliance, Virgin and JAL
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Female-friendly dining at Jurys Inn
Female business travellers who dislike eating alone on business trips now have the option to dine with other solo women at the Jurys Inn. The chain is testing out a women-only table in the restaurants of its Chelsea and Manchester hotels
Full story...

Could fully flat beds in economy become a reality?
Lufthansa is considering the introduction of "bunk bed" seats in economy class on overnight long haul routes. The airline insists that its thinking is "at a very early stage" but it has already canvassed the views of its frequent flyers to see how they would respond to the idea
Full story...

 

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