ATLANTA: Delta Air Lines Inc ordered 100 of Airbus SE’s A321neo jetliners, a deal with a list value of $12.7 billion, in a major victory for the European plane maker over Boeing Co. Deliveries of the single-aisle planes will begin in early 2020 and the transaction includes options for an additional 100 aircraft, Delta said in a statement Thursday, December 14. The airline’s decision dealt a setback to Boeing’s efforts to sell its newest 737 model, the Max 10. Delta chose the Airbus planes after battling Boeing in a trade dispute involving another narrow-body plane, Bombardier Inc’s C Series. Boeing…
Author: holidayweekly
LONDON: Heathrow Airport announced a public consultation on the proposed development of a third runway at Europe’s biggest airport, saying it aimed to mitigate the environmental impact of expansion. Prime Minister Theresa May backed a £16bn expansion of the London hub in October 2016, after decades of Government indecision. But the plan has been controversial, with critics highlighting the possible impact on air quality in London and noise levels in the local community. Heathrow officials said that they would seek the views of locals on the environmental impact of expansion and how the airspace around Heathrow is managed. “Over the…
DUBAI: Starting from Thursday, December 14, Emirates expects one of its highest passenger traffic periods for 2017 this upcoming weekend, as travelers head home or abroad for the holiday season. More than 420,000 travellers will be passing through Emirates Terminal 3 in Dubai International Airport during the weekend period, according to the airline’s latest booking figures. The busiest day for the airline is expected to be on Friday, December 15. With road works and major infrastructure enhancements happening around the main airport highways and roads, Emirates urges customers to build in extra time to their journeys to avoid potential delays.…
ICELAND: Forget traditional camping trips,the bubble hotel in Iceland has taken sleeping under the stars to a whole new level. [huge_it_slider id=”146″] The rooms at the Bubble Hotel are actually large plastic bubbles which are entirely see-through, meaning that guests get completely unparalleled views of both the surrounding scenery and the arctic sky. Popularly known as ‘5 million star hotel’ because of the breathtaking night sky views, which even includes a sighting of the Northern Lights if you’re lucky enough. Each of the bubble rooms boasts a comfortable double bed with plenty of duvets, blankets and pillows that are perfect…
PARIS: Airbus is exploring plans to lower A380 superjumbo production to as low as six aircraft per year as it battles to secure viable production of the world’s largest airliner beyond the end of the decade, industry sources said. Squeezed by smaller but efficient twin-engined jets, Airbus has announced plans to lower A380 output to 12 aircraft in 2018 and 8 in 2019, down from an annual peak of 30, as it holds out for what its forecasters believe will be a recovery in demand. But plans to maintain that rate are in doubt as Airbus seeks to finalise an…
NEW YORK: Luxury cruise line Cunard and 20th Century Fox Film partnered to host the world premiere of “The Greatest Showman” on the greatest ocean liner, Queen Mary 2, while the ship was docked in New York. This was the first time a Hollywood movie premiere took place on a passenger ship. [huge_it_slider id=”145″] “The Greatest Showman” cast including Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Rebecca Ferguson and Zendaya, Director Michael Gracey and Oscar and Tony winning musical duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul walked the red carpet on board Cunard’s flagship ocean liner just before the film was shown in the…
LAHORE: PIA has started two more weekly flights from Lahore to Muscat, making 11 flights per week to Muscat from different airports of Pakistan. A spokesman for the national carrier said the first flight left from Lahore to Muscat on Monday. PIA CEO Musharraf Rasool Cyan, while sharing his views on the commencement of flights, said that more flights would be operated on profitable routes, providing better services to passengers with the aim to increase revenues of the airline. PIA is now operating three flights per week from Karachi, three from Islamabad, two from Sialkot, one from Peshawar and two…
MUMBAI: The Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) Managing Committee was elected for the 2017-2019 term at the 66th Annual General Meeting held last week at ‘The Lalit’ in Mumbai, India. At the same meeting, all the office bearers of regions and chapters of TAAI, President, Vice President, Hon. Secretary General and Hon. Treasurer were announced as they were duly elected earlier during the year. In the President’s address, Mr. Sunil Kumar R. said: “The industry of travel, in the last two decades, witnessed changes that caused tremendous discomfort and posed challenges to its stakeholders. Enormous financials and time investments,…
NEW YORK: US airlines have moved to ban some smart luggage due to fire safety concerns over lithium batteries. Both American Airlines and Delta will bring in new rules from January 15 which forbids the carriage of smart luggage unless the lithium batteries which are used to power them are removed before check-in. Lithium batteries are used to power GPS signals to locate bags during a journey and have USB ports for charging other devices. Some models have removable battery packs while others are fixed. The airlines differ on policy over smart luggage as carry-ons. American Airlines will allow the…
MUSCAT: Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, continues its ambitious expansion plans in 2017 with a new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner joined the fleet on 6th December 2017. The wide-body Boeing 787-9 is a stretched version of the advanced long-range twin engine B787-8. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft is configured with 30 award-winning flat-bed Business Class suites, designed by BE Aerospace and 258 Economy Class seats. All classes feature the state-of-the-art Thales Integrated In-Flight Entertainment System which provides an even more enjoyable guest experience, allowing access to a wide selection of on-demand entertainment delivered through passenger experience interface…