Air France to install 2,102 new business class seats between 2014 and 2016 on its long-haul fleet

A unique design for more comfort and freedom A fully flat seat bed for perfect sleep Direct aisle access for each passenger A 16-inch (41 cm) high definition touch screen with over 1,000 hours of entertainment Paris, France, 2014-2-4 — /travelprnews.com/ — Air France is continuing its move upmarket and is today unveiling its new Business class… Read the full press release

London Gatwick opens Platform 7 at its Gatwick Airport rail station

Transport Minister Baroness Kramer officially opens the new platform London Gatwick contributed £7.5m to the project which cost £53m in total London Gatwick is already the best connected airport in the UK, serving 129 direct rail destinations Over 13 million air passengers and more than one million commuters use Gatwick station every year Upgrades are… Read the full press release

José Canales appointed Senior VP Latin America at Swissport International

Opfikon, Switzerland, 2014-2-4 — /travelprnews.com/ — Swissport International (Swissport) today announced the appointment of José Canales as Senior Vice President Latin America (LATAM), effective immediately. In this role José Canales is reporting to Juan José Andres Alvéz, Executive Vice President Europe, Africa & Latin America. In his new position José Canales will be responsible for all ground… Read the full press release

Geneva-based FBO PrivatPort received license to deliver full range of services at Zurich International Airport

Geneva, Switzerland, 2014-2-4 — /travelprnews.com/ — Geneva-based FBO (Fixed Base Operator) PrivatPort, affiliated to Swissport Executive Aviation, received the license to deliver a full range of services at Zurich International Airport as of 1 January 2014. The new FBO license completes the network in Switzerland. Now the business line offers executive aviation assistance at all three main Swiss… Read the full press release

Christoph Horak appointed Country Manager Poland at airberlin

Berlin, Germany, 2014-2-4 — /travelprnews.com/ — Since 1st February 2014, Christoph Horak has been appointed as Country Manager with responsibility for airberlin’s sales activities in Poland. Horak (41) has been the Regional Manager for Slovakia and the Czech Republic since 2012 and is now taking over the important focus market of Poland. He replaces Tamas Hanyi, who… Read the full press release

Germany’s second largest airline airberlin announced new GSA Partnership with World Aviation Group’s Aviation Online Ltd

Berlin, Germany, 2014-2-4 — /travelprnews.com/ — airberlin, Germany’s second largest airline, has retained Aviation Online Ltd, a subsidiary of World Aviation Group, to handle all sales and marketing activities in Malta for flights operated by airberlin and NIKI, the Austrian airline belonging to the airberlin group. Norbert Draskovits, Senior Vice President Sales Scheduled Services at airberlin: “With… Read the full press release

Alaska Airlines and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers reach agreement on new five-year contract

Seattle, WA, US, 2014-2-3 — /travelprnews.com/ — Alaska Airlines and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers have reached tentative agreement on a new five-year contract for the carrier’s 2,500 clerical, office and passenger service employees. “It’s a tribute to the professionalism of the negotiators for the IAM and Alaska that we agreed on… Read the full press release

Southwest Airlines to start 15 new nonstop domestic destinations from October and November 2014

Post Wright Amendment Offerings from Dallas Love Field Available Oct. 13, 2014 Dallas, TX, US, 2014-2-3 — /travelprnews.com/ — Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) today announced the airline will offer new nonstop service to domestic destinations from Dallas Love Field following the repeal of flight restrictions imposed in 1979 limiting the reach of Dallas’ most convenient airport. Southwest will… Read the full press release

First Cathay Pacific Freighter arrived at Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International Airport

Dubai, UAE, 2014-2-3 — /travelprnews.com/ — Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central welcomed Cathay Pacific’s first freighter flight on Saturday. The first Cathay Pacific CX061 Boeing 747-8 freighter took off from Hong Kong and arrived at DWC on 1 February 2014. The milestone event was celebrated by a traditional water salute upon the freighter’s arrival at… Read the full press release

Abu Dhabi Airports reported record 2013 passenger figures for Abu Dhabi International Airport

Abu Dhabi, UAE, 2014-2-3 — /travelprnews.com/ — Al Bateen Executive Airport, the dedicated business aviation airport of Abu Dhabi Airports, witnessed an 18% increase in visiting aircraft traffic and 6% increase in commercial aircraft traffic for 2013, compared to 2012. Yousif Al Hammadi, General Manager of Al Bateen Executive Airport, said: “Al Bateen executive Airport performed very… Read the full press release

Europe Airpost ouvre la première ligne aérienne entre Brive et Porto

Brive, France, 2014-2-3 — /travelprnews.com/ — Jean-François Dominiak, Directeur Général d’Europe Airpost, en présence de Jean-Louis Nesti, Président de l’aéroport Brive-Vallée de la Dordogne, a présenté aujourd’hui à l’aéroport, la série de vols réguliers mise en place par la compagnie vers Porto. Pendant tout l’été Europe Airpost reliera en vols réguliers Brive à Porto, inaugurant ainsi la première… Read the full press release

SkyTeam launched discounted fares promotion on its Go Round the World product, ends 31 March 2014

Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2014-1-31 — /travelprnews.com/ — SkyTeam, the global airline alliance, has launched a discounted fares promotion on its Go Round the World product.  SkyTeam is offering a 10% discount off tickets up to 26,000 miles purchased between 23 January and 31 March 2014. Tickets must be purchased seven days in advance and travel must be completed… Read the full press release

West and Central Africa’s largest carrier Arik Air reports for 18.6% increase in passenger traffic in 2013

Ikeja, Nigeria, 2014-1-31 — /travelprnews.com/ — Arik Air, West and Central Africa’s largest carrier has announced a steady growth in the number of passengers it carried between 2012 and 2013. The yearend figure released by the airline shows that a total of 2,745,400 passengers were carried in 2013. This figure represents 18.6 per cent increase over the… Read the full press release

Iberia to transport 14 southern banded snake eagles from Madrid to New York as part of conservation project

In collaboration with Spain’s Fundación Aquila and the SÍA – Comanche Nation Ethno-Ornithological Initiative, dedicated to conserving endangered birds of prey. Madrid, Spain, 2014-1-31 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Fundación Aquila and Iberia have taken 14 southern banded snake eagles from Madrid to New York where, after quarantine, they will be taken to a breeding facility operated by the Sia–Comanche Nation Ethno-Ornithological Initiative in Oklahoma…. Read the full press release

Emirates’ aircraft paint hangar completed 21 aircraft “make-overs” in 2013

A unique look into Emirates’ aircraft paint hangar, the world’s largest owned by an airline Dubai, UAE, 2014-1-31 — /travelprnews.com/ — Emirates, a global connector of people and places, operates the world’s largest fleets of A380s and Boeing 777s, and to serve these aircraft, it runs the world’s largest state-of-the-art aircraft paint hangar owned by an airline…. Read the full press release

RÉSULTATS D’ACTIVITÉ 2013 DES AÉROPORTS FRANCAIS

Paris, France, 2014-1-31 — /travelprnews.com/ — Les aéroports français ont battu en 2013 un nouveau record de trafic en accueillant 172 millions de passagers, fruit d’une croissance de leur activité de plus de 2%, ce qui en fait l’un des secteurs les plus dynamiques et porteurs de croissance de l’économie nationale. Ces bons résultats sont d’autant plus remarquables qu’ils s’accompagnent… Read the full press release

Spirit Airlines to start new nonstop service between O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Oakland International Airport (OAK)

Chicago, IL, US, 2014-1-31 — /travelprnews.com/ — Spirit Airlines today announced new nonstop service between O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Oakland International Airport (OAK). This new service will consist of one daily nonstop flight starting May 1, 2014. “On behalf of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, I want to thank Spirit Airlines for continuing to add service from… Read the full press release

John O’Sullivan appointed new managing director at Tourism Australia

Sydney, Australia, 2014-1-30 — /travelprnews.com/ — John O’Sullivan appointed new managing director at Tourism Australia Key quotes “We’re delighted to have found someone of the calibre and vision of John, who comes to Tourism Australia with a strong reputation for leading and developing high performing organisationsGeoff Dixon, Tourism AustraliaAustralian tourism is growing, is well respected and more… Read the full press release

VisitEngland and Equality and Human Rights Commission announced new guide for tourism businesses on welcoming customers with assistance dogs

London, UK, 2014-1-30 — /travelprnews.com/ — VisitEngland and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have produced a new guide for tourism businesses on welcoming customers with assistance dogs. Take the lead highlights the important role performed by assistance dogs, it outlines the legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010, and how tourism businesses can boost business… Read the full press release

Thai Airways International announced discounts on tickets through “E-Angpao” during Chinese New Year

Bangkok, Thailand, 2014-1-29 — /travelprnews.com/ — Thai Airways International is offering special promotional discounts on tickets through “E-Angpao” during Chinese New Year. Mr. Chokchai Panyayong, THAI Senior Executive Vice President of Commercial and Acting President, said THAI and THAI Smile are offering promotional fares to celebrate Chinese New Year. Passengers will receive an “E-Angpao” password for their… Read the full press release

Wyndham Vacation Ownership extends its Accelerate into the Fast Lane Sweepstakes

WVO Announces Extension of Popular Accelerate into the Fast Lane Sweepstakes Orlando, FL, US, 2014-1-29 — /travelprnews.com/ — Wyndham Vacation Ownership (WVO), the world’s largest vacation ownership company and a member of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies (NYSE:WYN), announced the extension of the Company’s Accelerate into the Fast Lane Sweepstakes. WVO drew six winners during the… Read the full press release

The Philippines’ leading carrier Cebu Pacific flew 14.4 million passengers in 2013

Posts 8.3% passenger traffic growth Cebu, Philippines, 2014-1-28 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Philippines’ leading carrier, Cebu Pacific (PSE: CEB) flew 14.4 million passengers in 2013, an increase of 8.3% over 13.3 million passengers flown in 2012. CEB posted a 10.7% passenger traffic growth on its international routes, with 3.3M international passengers flown. The airline also recorded a… Read the full press release

Jet Airways to launch two new international flights to Abu Dhabi

New flights to enhance connectivity for guests travelling from India via Abu Dhabi to multiple destinations in the Middle East, North America, Europe and Africa Mumbai, India, 2014-1-28 — /travelprnews.com/ — Jet Airways, India’s premier international airline, today announced the launch of two new international flights, Bengaluru’s maiden flight to the Gulf, connecting India’s IT Hub with… Read the full press release

Wizz Air now allows use of Portable Electronic Devices on board of all its flights

Budapest, Hungary, 2014-1-28 — /travelprnews.com/ — Wizz Air, the largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe*, today announced that passengers are now allowed to use Portable Electronic Devices (PEDs) such as mobile phones, electronic readers and tablet computers, on all Wizz Air flights. The new guidelines for the use of PEDs on board aircraft have… Read the full press release

South African Airways awarded the 4-Star Airline ranking for 2014 by Skytrax

London, UK, 2014-1-28 — /travelprnews.com/ — South African Airways have been awarded the 4-Star Airline ranking for 2014 by Skytrax, the independent, global airline rating organisation. The 4-Star Airline ranking recognises continued quality improvement in South African Airways onboard product and service, also reflecting improvements to the home base airport product and service levels at Johannesburg’s OR… Read the full press release

Terminal 2 at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport awarded Skytrax’s first 5-Star Airport Terminal ranking

London, UK, 2014-1-28 — /travelprnews.com/ — Terminal 2 at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is the first airport in mainland China to be awarded the first 5-Star Airport Terminal ranking, following the latest audit review conducted by Skytrax, the independent, global air transport rating organisation based in London, UK. Edward Plaisted, CEO of Skytrax said: “We have been… Read the full press release

Southwest Airlines to start international flights from BWI Marshall Airport

Airline Announces Shift of Three International Markets from AirTran to Southwest Service Baltimore, MD, US, 2014-1-28 — /travelprnews.com/ — Southwest Airlines today announced that service on three international routes from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI Marshall) would shift from AirTran Airways to Southwest on July 1, 2014. Nonstop service between BWI Marshall and Aruba, Montego Bay,… Read the full press release

Boeing and Ethiopian Airlines partner with nonprofit organizations to transport 7,300 pounds of medical and educational supplies to Addis Ababa

Airline’s 19 th flight is the most of any carrier involved in Boeing’s Humanitarian Delivery Flight program Everett, WA, US, 2014-1-27 — /travelprnews.com/ — Boeing (NYSE:BA) and Ethiopian Airlines have partnered with non-profit organizations, Seattle Anesthesia Outreach and Evangelical Africa Mission Outreach, to transport 7,300 pounds (3,311 kilograms) of medical and educational supplies to the Ethiopian capital,… Read the full press release

160 people from less-advantaged families embark on journey of lifetime with the Cathay Pacific Spirit of Hong Kong Community Flight 2014

Hong Kong, 2014-1-27 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Cathay Pacific Spirit of Hong Kong Community Flight 2014 took off from Hong Kong International Airport today, taking more than 160 residents from 69 less-advantaged single-parent families into the skies over the city. The participants had never had the opportunity to fly together with their families before. The community flight… Read the full press release

Swissport International sign multi-year ground handling contract with low-cost airline Germanwings

Opfikon, Switzerland, 2014-1-27 — /travelprnews.com/ — Swissport International (Swissport), the world’s largest provider of ground handling services for the aviation industry, and Germanwings, one of the most successful low-cost airlines in Europe, have signed a multi-year ground handling contract. In the context of this contract, Swissport commenced ground handling services for Germanwings at four locations, Birmingham, Geneva,… Read the full press release