A snapshot of the week's airline news
Turkish launches flights to Atlanta
TURKISH Airlines will launch daily non-stop services between
Istanbul Atatürk Airport and Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson
International Airport on May 16, 2016. It will be the carrier’s
second flight into the south-eastern US. The airline will launch
a daily non-stop service to Miami in late October this year
using a Boeing 777-300ER. Turkish Airlines has also added
flights to Graz, its third destination in Austria after Vienna and
Salzburg. Roundtrip flights between Istanbul and Graz operate
four times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and
Saturdays. Flight TK1461 departs Istanbul at 13h30 and
arrives in Graz at 14h45. Flight TK1462 departs Graz at
15h40 and arrives in Istanbul at 18h45.
KLM launches Apple Watch app
KLM has introduced its first app for the Apple Watch, giving
travellers access to important flight information, including
the remaining time before departure, the boarding pass and
possible changes related to flight information. When the
time comes to check in for the flight, Apple Watch users only
need to tap once on the screen. The passenger can then save
the boarding pass in passbook for use when boarding the
aircraft. At any given point during the flight, the app shows
the remaining flight time.
Besides flight information and flight-related services, the
app also offers special functionality for KLM’s Flying Blue
members.
EgyptAir resumes flights to Manchester
EGYPTAIR has resumed flights from Cairo to Manchester.
Flights operate five times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays,
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. A Boeing 737-800 is used
on the route, with 24 seats in the business-class cabin.
Fly the Dreamliner to Zurich
ETIHAD Airways has introduced its new Boeing 787
Dreamliner on the Abu Dhabi-Zurich route. It offers the
airline’s First Suites, Business Studios and Economy Smart
seats. Each suite has a large Poltrona Frau upholstered seat
and ottoman, a personal wardrobe and a chilled mini-bar.
The Business Studios offer 20% more personal space than
the airline’s current business-class seats, and feature a fully
flat bed and a personal 46cm touch-screen TV with noisecancelling
headsets. There is also more space and greater
comfort in economy class.
Ethiopian suspends Goma flights
ETHIOPIAN Airlines has suspended flights to Goma in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, following claims by
DRC regulator, Régie des Voies Aériennes de la République
Démocratique du Congo, that the airport was not fit to
handle flights. Ethiopian could not confirm the particulars
surrounding the suspension but confirms that the airline
is looking for the most viable means forward. Goma’s only
runway was severely damaged by the eruption of the nearby
Mount Nyiragongo in 2002, when the lava flow covered a
1 200m section.
Cathay adds Hiroshima to network
STARTING August 16, Cathay Pacific Airways’ sister airline,
Dragonair, will operate flights between Hong Kong and
Hiroshima twice a week.
Dragonair will be the only carrier offering a non-stop service
between Hong Kong and Hiroshima, adding to its existing
destinations in Japan, which include Tokyo (Haneda),
Fukuoka and Okinawa. The Hong Kong-Hiroshima flights will
operate on Thursdays and Sundays. Cathay Pacific flies from
Johannesburg to Hong Kong seven days a week. Flight CX748
departs Johannesburg daily at 12h35 and arrives in Hong
Kong at 07h05 + 1. Flight KA350 departs Hong Kong on
Thursdays and Sundays at 13h10 and arrives in Hiroshima at
17h45. Flight KA351 departs Hiroshima on the same days at
19h00 and arrives in Hong Kong at 21h45.
