Sir Richard Branson letter to Financial Times

2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — The following letter from Sir Richard Branson appeared in the Financial Times on 1 September 2012 Dear Sir, Your assertion that Virgin is seeking to re-write the competition rules for the West Coast train franchise (‘No Second Act for Virgin Trains – August 29, 2012) is wrong.  On the contrary, we have… Read the full press release

Africa First, Ethiopian 1st B787 Dreamliner Touches Down in Malabo

2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — Ethiopian Airlines is pleased to announce that its first Dreamliner, “Africa First”, touched down in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on August 30, 2012. Ethiopian 1st Dreamliner flight to Malabo is part of its tour of stations in the Ethiopian network. Malabo is the capital of Equatorial Guinea, one of the fastest growing economies… Read the full press release

WIZZ AIR ANNOUNCES 2ND BELGRADE AIRCRAFT

With 4 New Routes and 550,000 Passengers for 2013 Belgrade, 2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — Wizz Air, the largest low-cost, low-fare airline in Central and Eastern Europe, today announced that it will double its fleet investment at Belgrade by adding one new Airbus A320 and launching 4 new low fare routes to Basel, Corfu*, Oslo Torp and… Read the full press release

Pier south opening at Oslo Airport

2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — On Monday, 3 September, Oslo Airport will open a new domestic pier. The new pier is temporary, and is primarily built to maintain capacity during the renovation of OSL towards 2017. Opening the pier will prevent an increase in the scope of shuttling, even though existing gates must be closed during the… Read the full press release

Silicon Valley’s Airport the Best in the State for On-Time Performance

SAN JOSE, 2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) is ranked the best airport in California for on-time performance for medium to large size airports, according to data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (www.transtats.bts.gov). Oakland International Airport ranked fifth in the state, while San Francisco International Airport came in last with the… Read the full press release

Financial Times story on Saturday 1 September 2012 on West Coast franchise issue

Branson denies contract loss led to concerns By Rose Jacobs and Jim Pickard 2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — Sir Richard Branson has denied the assertion that he only raised concerns about the UK rail franchising process after losing the lucrative contract to run the West Coast main line. In a letter to the FT, Sir Richard said… Read the full press release

LAX FLYAWAY® BUS AT IRVINE STATION TO DISCONTINUE SERVICE

Other FlyAway ® Service Sites Are NOT Affected by Contracted Bus Operator’s Bankruptcy Los Angeles, California, 2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ —  FlyAway ® nonstop bus service between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and the Irvine Transportation Center (Irvine Station) in Orange County will end tomorrow, August 31, 2012 at midnight, it was announced today by airport officials. Today’s announcement results… Read the full press release

New flights, traffic intensifying at Budapest Airport

2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — New flights will be launched at Budapest Airport during the winter schedule period, whilst some airlines are increasing the frequency of their existing flights already during the fall. The summer travel season is still under way at Budapest Airport, but the airlines and the airport operator are already looking ahead to the… Read the full press release

Africa First, Ethiopian 1st B787 Dreamliner Arrives In Abuja

2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — Ethiopian 1st B787 Dreamliner, dubbed “Africa First”, landed at Abuja Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Wednesday, 29 August 2012. Ethiopian is the first airline outside Japan to operate the Dreamliner, the most technologically advanced commercial aircraft in the world. Abuja has become one of the few airports in the world to receive the… Read the full press release

TRANSFORM 2015 – UPDATE ON THE BUSINESS PLAN FOR THE FRENCH REGIONAL HUB

2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — The two regional airlines Brit Air and Regional (both subsidiaries of the Air France group) and Airlinair, today presented to their respective Works Councils an update of the strategic business plan for the new French regional hub and its impact on jobs for crew members. Within the framework of the Transform 2015… Read the full press release

KLM Launches Portuguese Language Service on Facebook and Twitter

2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — Fans and followers of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines on Facebook and Twitter can now reach KLM in Portuguese 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Customers can use these social media channels 24/7 to put all kinds of travel related questions to KLM. For instance, to select a seat, rebook a… Read the full press release

FirstGroup’s criticism of West Coast Performance

2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — Tim O’Toole, CEO of FirstGroup, has publicly criticised Virgin Trains’ performance citing the Public Performance Measure (PPM), which measures the number of trains arriving on time, as evidence to support his claims that FirstGroup would operate West Coast better. He has also commented on the number of complaint letters received by the… Read the full press release

1st in Africa, Ethiopian Dreamliner Touches down in Brazzaville and Kinshasa

2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — Ethiopian Airlines, the first in the world outside Japan to take delivery of the B787 Dreamliner, is pleased to announce that its B787 Dreamliner called “Africa First”, touched down at Brazzaville and Kinshasa airports on 28 August 2012. Ethiopian 1st B787 Dreamliner is rotating, primarily in Africa destinations, as part of the airline’s… Read the full press release

airberlin: Susanna Sciacovelli takes on responsibility for more markets as Area Manager Southern Europe

2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — Susanna Sciacovelli (41), who has been General Director for airberlin in Italy since July 2010, is now taking on the markets in Greece, Israel and Turkey as Area Manager. airberlin has brought together these markets under the newly created country cluster “Southern Europe” and has placed responsibility for sales and marketing in… Read the full press release

Sixth Annual Apples to iPods Contest at 20 Apple Orchards

2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — Vermont’s pick-your-own orchards will offer a chance to win an iPod during the “Apples to iPods” promotion that kicks off September 7. In this technology-meets-agriculture contest, one specially marked wooden apple is hidden in an apple tree at 20 Vermont pick-your-own apple orchards. The lucky apple picker who finds a wooden apple… Read the full press release

Statement re: InterCity West Coast Franchise Award

2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — We understand that Virgin Rail Ltd a subsidiary of Virgin Rail Group, the joint venture between Virgin Group and Stagecoach Group plc, has brought a legal challenge against the Department for Transport in relation to the recent award of the InterCity West Coast rail franchise to FirstGroup. We have every confidence in… Read the full press release

Virgin challenges First Group on West Coast Bid promises

2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — Virgin Rail Group (VRG) today challenged FirstGroup(FG) CEO Tim O’Toole to ‘come clean’ on his company’s commitments for the West Coast Main Line franchise after a series of contradictory and unclear statements made to City analysts and MPs. In a 10-question challenge, published below, the company asked for clear evidence of… Read the full press release

WTTC Launches 2013 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards

Global “Call for Entries” Announced 2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is inviting tourism businesses, organisations, and destinations worldwide to apply for its prestigious Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. Each year, the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards recognise global leadership in sustainable tourism best practices. Due to its rigorous three-step judging process involving… Read the full press release

Unlocking Africa’s Aviation Potential

Dakar, 2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reinforced its commitment to African aviation and called on industry and government leaders in Central West Africa to work together to make aviation an even more integral part of African economic development and integration. Safety, regional cooperation and global standards for infrastructure funding were highlighted… Read the full press release

Simon Cook becomes new UK and Ireland Sales Manager for airberlin

2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — As the new Sales Manager for the UK, the Channel Islands and Ireland since 1st September 2012, Simon Cook supports the team of Rogier de Jager, airberlin’s Area Manager Western Europe. He takes over the position previously held by Titus Johnson, who became Vice President of Sales and Marketing for the newly… Read the full press release

QATAR AIRWAYS LAUNCHES LATEST GLOBAL SALE AT MIDNIGHT

Three-Day Offering Provides Travellers With Great Savings Fly The World’s Best Airline To More Than 100 Destinations Across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia And The Americas Generous Travel Window Between 10 September 2012 and 13 March 2013 Doha, QATAR, 2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — Qatar Airways is offering customers around the world with great savings to… Read the full press release

Alaska Air Group to Webcast Presentation at the Dahlman Rose & Co. Global Transportation Conference

SEATTLE, 2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — Alaska Air Group Inc. (NYSE: ALK), the parent company of Alaska Airlines Inc. and Horizon Air Industries Inc., today announced it will webcast a presentation by Brandon Pedersen, Alaska’s vice president, finance, and chief financial officer, at the Dahlman Rose & Co. Global Transportation Conference on Wednesday, Sept. 5, in New… Read the full press release

Southwest Airlines Co. to Present at the Deutsche Bank 2012 Aviation and Transportation Conference

DALLAS – 2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) has been invited to speak at the Deutsche Bank 2012 Aviation and Transportation Conference.  Deutsche Bank will be webcasting the audio presentation live, and a link to the webcast will be made available via the Investor Relations homepage on the Southwest Airlines website.  Details of the… Read the full press release

airberlin: Hotline at local rates

2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — Guests who want to book their flight, find out about Check-in procedures or pre-order their airberlin currywurst can now phone the Service Center at new local rates 24 hours a day. For travel agencies and guests in Europe, the airline operates six call centers. With success: 90 percent of all calls are… Read the full press release

CAA ensures NATS regulation is fit for the future

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has today published for consultation a review of its regulation of the en route part of NATS’ air traffic control business, NERL. 2012-09-03 — /travelprnews.com/ — The review examines what the CAA needs to achieve from its regulation of NERL in light of likely future changes in the market context… Read the full press release

ADAC Concludes its Staff Summer Safety and Heat Awareness Campaign

Part of ADAC’s commitment to operate at optimum safety and security standards Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2012-09-02 — /travelprnews.com/ —  As part of its commitment to operate under optimum safety and security standards, Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) ran its comprehensive summer safety and heat awareness campaign, over a period of four months, for its… Read the full press release

Countdown to the 2012 Autumn WellBeing Fair Next Week!

2012-08-31 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Autumn WellBeing Fair is due to be held over the weekend of 8th and 9th September 2012 at the Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel in Jersey. Organised by WellBeing World, a membership body with a wide range of 90 wellbeing service provider members, the WellBeing Fair is the third such event to… Read the full press release

Hundreds attend Concessions Open House at O’Hare

Hundreds attend Concessions Open House at O'Hare

CHICAGO, 2012-08-31 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Hilton Chicago O’Hare Airport. More than 200 business owners, retailers, service providers, suppliers and Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) firms participated in the event. The attendees networked and learned about concessions opportunities at Chicago’s airports. The Concessions Open House provided a valuable preview for the upcoming O’Hare Food… Read the full press release

Sweet Osmanthus, the Scent of Autumn at Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake

Jin Sha terrace

Flowers perfume the air and dishes at Jin Sha this September Hangzhou at West Lake, China, 2012-08-31 — /travelprnews.com/ — With a divine fragrance, it is no wonder that osmanthus can lure attention and adoration from everyone that passes their way. Regarded as the city flower of Hangzhou, the beloved evergreen shrub native to China falls… Read the full press release

Third Direct European Route from Blue Islands

2012-08-31 — /travelprnews.com/ — Local airline Blue Islands, today announce a new direct service to Chambery for ski travel this Winter. The direct service will give travellers from Jersey the fastest access to the French Alps during the 2012 – 2013 ski season. Chambery is the most central airport in the Alps, making it the easiest… Read the full press release