20
Nov
Author: Lindsey | Category:
Airline News,
Airlines,
Latest Travel News
Emirates is supporting the Dubai Governments bid to increase tourism to the region by ordering 60 more Airbus Aircraft.
The Government aims to boost tourism by 15 million visitor per year by 2012 and this can only be helped by the order for 30 more Airbus A350XWB and 30 more A330-300 aircraft.
The new order for the A350XWB aircraft increases Emirates total order of the type to 100.
The Emirates fleet offers a range of modern, fuel efficient and young aircraft and this is seen by many as key to achieving increased tourist numbers.
20
Nov
Author: Lindsey | Category:
Airline News,
Airlines,
Business Travel
Regional South African airline Interlink has seized the opportunity in the market since the demise of Nationwide Airlines and has launched flights from Johannesburg to Durban and Cape Town.
The superb value flights are currently being offered with a special fare of Rand 199 subject to availability.
Both routes will operate on Fridays and Sundays using Boeing 737-200 aircraft.
The Kenyan Aviation authority has attempted to boost visitor numbers to the country by signing three new international charter services.
Two of these charters will be from the UK and one will be from Italy.
From the UK the two operators granted a two year licence are ThomsonFly and Monarch Airlines. From Italy the carrier Blue Panorama has been granted a one year licence.
19
Nov
Author: Lindsey | Category:
Airlines
Gulf Air has increased its numbers of aircraft as part of its growth and expansion strategy.
The airline has signed a lease agreement for five new aircraft. The lease, which last six years for each aircraft includes two Airbus A319-100s and three Airbus A330-200s.
The two A319s were delivered in Sept ’08 and the A330s are expected to be delivered in March, April and May ’09.
19
Nov
Author: Lindsey | Category:
Airline News,
Airlines
If you are considering a holiday to the dream destination of the Seychelles then you will quite probably find yourself travelling there with Air Seychelles.
Today Air Seychelles is one of the few profitable airlines in the Indian Ocean region, reporting positive results for the past 9 years.
The Seychelles are an archipelago of 115 islands scattered in the Indian Ocean some 480 miles off the east coats of Africa. Offering picture postcard white beaches with tropical palms the Seychelles have a reputation as on of the most exclusive destinations on earth.
Government restrictions on tourism levels, designed to maintain the islands natural beauty have actually meant the growth of Air Seychelles has been relatively slow. However, maintaining a sustainable tourism policy is also part of the airlines success.
Founded in 1977 as Seychelles Airlines and rebranded the following year as Air Seychelles the company flew only domestic routes. Recession during the 1980s hit demand for luxury holidays and British Airways and Lufthansa both abandoned routes into the Seychelles, leaving only Air France serving the islands on an international route.
The Seychelles Government took drastic action and made funding available to Air Seychelles to develop its own international route, with the aim of boosting international tourism.
The carrier signed a year long charter agreement with British Caledonian Airways for one of its DC10-30 aircraft and on November 1st 1983 launched its first flight to the Seychelles from London Gatwick via Frankfurt.
Moving to the present day and Air Seychelles principal route is Paris, which is flown under a code share with Air France and connections are offered with London, Milan and Rome.
Flights to Germany are sold under a code share with Condor Airlines. Growth in demand from South Africa has resulted in frequencies from Johannesburg being increased.
The next, planned major development for Air Seychelles will be the arrival of its two Boeing 787 Dreamliner Aircraft, which are due to be delivered in 2012. The arrival of these aircraft will coincide with the airlines re-branding programmes.
The success of Air Seychelles remains closely linked with the popularity of the islands as a tourist destination. While this remains healthy so will business.