Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker met with Mayor of Chengdu, Ge Honglin as the airline launched its newest direct route to Chengdu, China

CHENGDU, China, 2013-09-18 — /travelprnews.com/ — High level meetings between Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker and the Mayor of Chengdu Municipality, Mr. Ge Honglin, took place last week as Qatar Airways launched their newest direct route to Chengdu on September 3. Mr. Al Baker and Mr. Honglin were joined by the Assistant Mayor… Read the full press release

More than 700 runners, walkers and aviation enthusiasts participated in Chicago Midway International Airport’s first-ever run on the airfield

CHICAGO, 2013-09-18 — /travelprnews.com/ — More than 700 runners, walkers and aviation enthusiasts got in some exercise this morning and became part of history when they participated in Chicago Midway International Airport’s first-ever run on the airfield. The Midway Fly Away 5K was presented by Southwest Airlines and the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA), with proceeds… Read the full press release

NH Hoteles joined Iberia Plus loyalty programe

The airline’s customers can earn Avios to spend in NH hotels in 26 countries and take advantage of exclusive offers The two companies signed a corporate agreement in 2012 to work together on plans to improve their supply of products and services Madrid, 2013-09-17 — /travelprnews.com/ — Iberia Plus and NH Hoteles, two of Spain’s leading international… Read the full press release

flydubai moved its flight operations from the main terminal at Kuwait International Airport to the Sheikh Saad Al Abdallah General Aviation Terminal

Kuwait, 2013-09-17 — /travelprnews.com/ — flydubai today celebrated moving its eight daily flight operations from the main terminal at Kuwait International Airport to the Sheikh Saad Al Abdallah General Aviation Terminal. The move to the terminal offers an enhanced customer experience for flydubai passengers flying in and out of Kuwait. flydubai’s inaugural flight, FZ057, touched down at… Read the full press release

Jet Airways’ JetEscapes announced attractive and economical holidays for travellers from Sri Lanka

2013-09-17 — /travelprnews.com/ — Jet Airways, India’s premier international airline, has introduced a slew of attractive and economical holidays* under its JetEscapes brand. Travelers from Sri Lanka can now enjoy convenient, all-inclusive holidays to popular destinations in India. JetEscapes holidays include return air travel in economy, airport transfers, 3 star hotel accommodation with breakfast and sightseeing…. Read the full press release

Malaysia Airlines celebrates Malaysia Day by rewarding its loyal customers, ends 22 September 2013

Enrich rewards triple miles for all tickets purchased for domestic travel Subang, 2013-09-17 — /travelprnews.com/ — Malaysia Airlines is celebrating Malaysia Day by rewarding its loyal customers. All Enrich members will receive triple miles with every purchase of an economy class ticket to any domestic destination, one way or return. Sales period for this campaign starts… Read the full press release

Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG Christoph Franz to step down as of 31 May 2014

2013-09-16 — /travelprnews.com/ — Christoph Franz, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, has told Wolfgang Mayrhuber, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, that he will not be available to renew his contract when it expires on 31 May 2014. “After a total of nearly 15 years in the Lufthansa Group, this was… Read the full press release

Ryanair arrives at Lisbon with 4 new routes to Brussels Charleroi, Frankfurt Hahn, London Stansted and Paris Beauvais

4 NEW ROUTES TO BRUSSELS, FRANKFURT, LONDON & PARIS 400,000 PASSENGERS P.A. & 400 JOBS FOR LISBON 2013-09-16 — /travelprnews.com/ — Ryanair, Europe’s only ultra-low cost carrier (ULCC), today (16 Sep) announced its arrival at Lisbon (Ryanair’s 3rd airport in Portugal) with 4 new routes to Brussels Charleroi, Frankfurt Hahn, London Stansted and Paris Beauvais from… Read the full press release

Ryanair and Manchester Airport Group announced 10 year growth agreement at London Stansted Airport

TRAFFIC TO GROW BY 50% FROM 13.2M P.A. TO OVER 20M SUMMER 2014 SCHEDULE RELEASED WITH 4 NEW ROUTES (BORDEAUX, DORTMUND, LISBON & RABAT) 2013-09-16 — /travelprnews.com/ — Ryanair and Manchester Airport Group (MAG), today (16 Sep) announced that they had concluded a 10 year growth agreement at London Stansted Airport, which will see Ryanair grow… Read the full press release

easyJet and Amadeus launch unique system enhancements to help travel agents book low-cost carriers

New approach improves efficiency for travel agents and drives increased bookings for easyJet. Madrid/London, 2013-09-16 — /travelprnews.com/ — easyJet, the UK’s largest airline and operator of Europe’s no.1 air transport network, and Amadeus, a leading technology partner for the global travel industry, announce today the launch of unique system enhancements that will allow travel agents around… Read the full press release

Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) announced it reached 5.6 million passengers in August 2013, 8.2% growth YoY

HONG KONG, 2013-09-16 — /travelprnews.com/ — Traffic at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) continued to grow significantly in August 2013. During the month, passenger throughput reached 5.6 million, while flight movements recorded 32,395 – achieving remarkable year-on-year growth of 8.2% and 6.3%, respectively, and setting new passenger traffic and flight movement records for the second month… Read the full press release

Auckland Airport made the 2013 Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI World) for the second year in a row

The announcement of the 2013 Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI World) has seen Auckland Airport feature in the index for the second year in a row. 2013-09-16 — /travelprnews.com/ — Seen as the most reputable global index for the socially responsible investor, the DJSI World saw only three NZX50 companies make the 2013 index, with Auckland… Read the full press release

Super low airfares at Malaysia Airlines, ends 16 September 2013

Subang, 2013-09-13 — /travelprnews.com/ — Malaysia Airlines continues to offer travelers super low airfares for bookings effective immediately until 16 September 2013. These promotional offers are for selected domestic and international air travel on the national carrier’s flights out of KL International Airport and for travel from now until July 2014. Malaysia Airlines Regional Senior Vice… Read the full press release

Norwegian awarded Best Inflight Connectivity and Communications for its free inflight WiFi at Passenger Choice Awards 2013 in California

Norwegian was awarded Best Inflight Connectivity and Communications for its free inflight WiFi at the prestigious Passenger Choice Awards 2013 in Anaheim, California last night. Norwegian takes home the award for second year running.  2013-09-13 — /travelprnews.com/ — Norwegian was awarded Best Inflight Connectivity and Communications for its free inflight WiFi at the prestigious Passenger Choice Awards 2013 in Anaheim,… Read the full press release

Kenya Airways appointed Willem Alexander Hondius CEO for its new low-cost carrier subsidiary Jambo Jet Limited

Nairobi, 2013-09-13 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Board of Kenya Airways has appointed Willem Alexander Hondius as Chief Executive Officer of Jambo Jet Limited, the airline’s new low-cost carrier subsidiary. Announcing the appointment, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Titus Naikuni, said: “I am pleased to announce the appointment of Willem Hondius as Chief Executive Officer… Read the full press release

Iberia honored for its MyBagTag innovative baggage tags on-line service

Wins “Future Travel Experience” award for “Best customer experience innovation” in check-in category. First airline to win award for two consecutive years –it won last year for its “Ágora” Project Award follows IATA recognition in July of Iberia’s MyBagTag service MyBagTag allows customer to download and print luggage tags when checking in on line, speeding… Read the full press release

Swissport very concerned about delay of Ukrainian judicial system and silence on Governmental side

Highest Economic Court decision still pending UIA diluted Swissport’s shares in the meantime Government remains silent on protection of foreign investment 2013-09-12 — /travelprnews.com/ — The court appeal hearings at the Highest Economic Court keep being postponed, for the seventh time based on dubious reasons lastly on Friday, 30. August. In the meantime UIA (Ukrainian International… Read the full press release

Southwest Airlines flew 9.2 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in August 2013

2013-09-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced today that the Company flew 9.2 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in August 2013, a 2.0 percent decrease from the 9.4 billion RPMs flown in August 2012.  Available seat miles (ASMs) in August 2013 increased 1.4 percent to 11.3 billion from the August 2012 level of… Read the full press release

Spirit Airlines released its preliminary traffic results for August 2013

Miramar, Florida, 2013-09-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — Spirit Airlines (NASDAQ: SAVE) today reported its preliminary traffic results for August 2013. Traffic (revenue passenger miles) in August 2013 increased 28.0 percent versus August 2012 on a capacity (available seat miles) increase of 22.1 percent. Load factor for August 2013 was 90.7 percent, an increase of 4.2 points as… Read the full press release

International Council on Clean Transportation report named Alaska Airlines the Most Fuel-Efficient U.S. Airline

Report by International Council on Clean Transportation is first to quantify airline fuel performance SEATTLE, 2013-09-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — Alaska Airlines is ranked No. 1 in fuel efficiency in a report released today by the International Council on Clean Transportation, a nonprofit research organization based in Washington, D.C. The ICCT study is the first to quantify… Read the full press release

Qatar Airways Cargo signed multilateral e-Air Waybill (e-AWB) agreement with International Air Transport Association (IATA)

DOHA, Qatar, 2013-09-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — Qatar Airways Cargo has announced the signing of a multilateral e-Air Waybill (e-AWB) agreement (Resolution 672) with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) which provides a legal framework for parties to conclude cargo contracts by electronic means. Developed collaboratively by IATA with industry stakeholders, e-AWB removes the requirement for a paper air… Read the full press release

United Airlines to launch new nonstop service from its Chicago hub at O’Hare International Airport to Elmira, N.Y., and State College, Pa

CHICAGO, 2013-09-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — United Airlines today announced plans to launch new nonstop service from its Chicago hub at O’Hare International Airport to Elmira, N.Y., and State College, Pa. The airline also plans to begin new service from Chicago to Topeka, Kan., subject to government approval. ExpressJet Airlines will operate the United Express flights using 50-seat regional jet… Read the full press release

easyJet to increase its Jersey network with the introduction of a year-round service to London Gatwick

2013-09-10 — /travelprnews.com/ — easyJet, the UK’s largest airline has today, Wednesday 28 August 2013, announced it is increasing its Jersey network with the introduction of a year-round service to London Gatwick. From 30 March 2014 easyJet will operate three flights per day between Jersey and London Gatwick, offering the choice of a morning, afternoon and… Read the full press release

Auckland Airport welcomed Jetstar’s new thrice-weekly direct flights between Auckland and Adelaide

Auckland Airport has welcomed today’s announcement by Jetstar that it will start a new thrice-weekly direct service between Auckland and Adelaide. 2013-09-10 — /travelprnews.com/ — The new service, which will commence on 16 December 2013, will be operated by an Airbus A320 and will see Adelaide join Sydney, Melbourne and Gold Coast to become the fourth… Read the full press release

Drug detector dogs at New Zealand airports to be trained to also sniff out large amounts of currency as new way to target proceeds of crime

Drug detector dogs at airports around the country will soon be trained to also sniff out large amounts of currency as part of a new method of targeting the proceeds of crime. 2013-09-10 — /travelprnews.com/ — A recent trial of two of the detector dogs at Auckland Airport resulted in the seizure of more than $350,000… Read the full press release

The Philippines’ largest national flag carrier Cebu Pacific cited as one of Asia’s Most Promising Brands at Asian Brand and Leadership Summit in Dubai

DUBAI, UAE, 2013-09-10 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Philippines’ largest national flag carrier, Cebu Pacific (PSE:CEB) was cited as one of Asia’s Most Promising Brands during the Asian Brand and Leadership Summit last August 26-27, 2013 in Dubai. The event was organized by the World Consulting and Research Corporation (WCRC) and iBrands 360. “We are very proud… Read the full press release

Bristol Airport launches marketing campaign across Devon and Cornwall to raise region’s awareness of 100+ destinations

2013-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Bristol Airport launches a marketing campaign across Devon and Cornwall today (Monday 2 September) highlighting the wide range of routes available to passengers across the South West. The campaign comes on the back of significant growth in market share in the two counties which indicates that Bristol is increasingly seen as the… Read the full press release

Airport Commission’s emphasis on noise as central to expansion selection welcomed by London Gatwick as its noise impacts are lower than those of Heathrow

The Airports Commission has rightly emphasised that aviation noise will be a central issue in any decisions about new airport capacity Gatwick’s noise impacts are many times lower than those of Heathrow because aircraft using our airport do not overfly highly populated areas in London. Nothing in the future can change this basic fact, which… Read the full press release

AIRFRANCE KLM August 2013 traffic figures: passenger +4.9%, cargo -1.3%

Passenger: rise in traffic (+4.9%) and unit revenue ex-currency Cargo: decline in traffic (-1.3%) and unit revenue Passenger 2013-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — In August 2013, passenger traffic rose by 4.9% for capacity up by 2.3%. The load factor stood at 87.9%, up by 2.2 points. The group carried 7.15 million passengers (+3.0%). Unit revenue per available seat kilometre… Read the full press release

Air France first European airline to serve Shanghai by Airbus A380

First European airline to serve Shanghai by Airbus A380 Three weekly flights on departure from Paris-Charles de Gaulle to Shanghai-Pudong by Airbus A380 516 passengers on board and optimum comfort in all cabin classes 2013-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Starting today, Air France now offers customers three weekly flights to Shanghai-Pudong by Airbus A380, becoming the first European… Read the full press release