A snapshot of the week's airline news
Emirates introduces new baggage policy
EMIRATES has introduced a new baggage policy, effective for all its
return outbound African flights. Adult and child passengers flying in
economy class are allowed two pieces weighing 23kg each; adult
and child passengers in business and first class may take two pieces
weighing 32kg each. Infants flying in either class are allowed one
piece weighing 23kg. The baggage allowance applies to all return
Emirates flights commencing from Algeria, Angola, Ivory Coast,
Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Mauritius, Nigeria, Senegal,
Seychelles, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia
and Zimbabwe. “Irrespective of the point of sale, the piece concept
will apply for the entire journey,” the airline said in a statement.
Etihad codeshares with South American airline
ETIHAD Airways and South American airline, Avianca, have announced
a codeshare partnership. “Under the agreement, Etihad Airways will
place its ‘EY’ code on Avianca-operated flights between Bogota and
London Heathrow and Madrid Barajas, while Avianca will place its ‘AV’
code on Etihad Airways flights between Abu Dhabi and London and
Madrid,” Etihad said in a statement. From May, members of the Etihad
Guest programme and Avianca’s LifeMiles programme will be able to
earn miles on the codeshare flights.
Ethiopian to launch flights to Newark
ETHIOPIAN Airlines will commence scheduled thrice-weekly flights
to Newark Airport, New York, from Addis Ababa on July 3, via Lomé,
Togo. This follows the airline’s announcement in January confirming
it would launch flights to New York’s JFK Airport at the end of June.
Ethiopian will deploy the Boeing 787 Dreamliner on the Addis AbabaNewark
route, with 24 business-class and 246 economy seats. Flight
ET508 will depart Addis Ababa at 09h45 on Tuesdays, Thursdays
and Sundays, to arrive in Lomé at 12h00. The flight will then depart
Lomé at 13h00 and arrive in Newark at 19h15. Return flight ET509
departs Newark at 21h15 and arrives in Lomé at 11h30 the following
day. It departs Lomé at 12h30 and arrives in Addis Ababa at 21h15.
Meanwhile, the airline has launched its second daily flight to Delhi,
effective March 28. Flight ET 688 departs Addis Ababa at 15h50 to
arrive in Delhi at 01h10 the next day. Return flight ET 689 departs
Delhi at 09h30 to arrive in Addis Ababa at 14h00 the same day.
Air Seychelles ups Antananarivo flights
AIR Seychelles will operate an extra flight between Mahé, Seychelles,
and Antananarivo, Madagascar, on Tuesdays, effective June 28. This is
in addition to the current Wednesday, Friday and Sunday flights. The
additional service, which will operate until January 10, will have the
same flight numbers and times as the current schedule. Flight HM
0755 departs Mahé on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 10h05
to arrive in Antananarivo at 11h50. Return flight HM 0754 departs
Antananarivo at 14h50 to arrive in Mahé at 18h35. The new flight will
also be operated with an Airbus A320 in a two-cabin configuration
with 16 business-class and 120 economy-class seats.
Upgrades for Los Angeles International Airport
LOS Angeles International Airport (LAX) is to undergo major upgrades
costing US$5bn (R79bn). The proposed construction period is from
2017 to 2023. The work includes an automated people mover, the
LAX train, which provides access to the airline terminals; a facility
that will accommodate several car-rental agencies; two pick-up and
drop-off zones where passengers can park their cars, check in and
get to their flights using the LAX train; and roadway improvements to
enhance access. The train will be an elevated 3,6km transit system
with six stations for passenger pick-up and drop-off, pedestrian
bridges to airline terminals, parking garages, fixed facilities and a stop
that connects to the Metro railway system. It will be free and can be
accessed 24 hours a day. It will also connect to the rental car facility.
New national carrier for Senegal
THE Senegalese government has created a new national carrier – Air
Senegal – following the closure of indebted Senegal Airlines. Senegal
Airlines’ closure was confirmed by the Senegalese state on April 11.
The airline will fly out of Blaise Diagne International Airport in Senegal
and a date confirming the launch of scheduled operations has not yet
been announced.
