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Air Asia, famed for being Asia’s leading low cost carrier has recently launched cheap daily flights from its base at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Tiruchirappli in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The route is served by an Airbus A320.

This route represents the first stage of the airlines’ long term expansion plans and boosts its presence in India. Nine further Indian destinations are set to be launched, including Madras, Cochin and Madurai.

International routes are also served by Air Asia’s affiliate long haul carrier Air Asia X, and they plan to introduce cheap flights from Malaysia into New Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad.

Passengers wishing to travel by air within the USA between the cities of Kansas City Missouri and Fort Lauderdale, Florida will welcome the new service offered by Southwest Airlines.

Southwest has launched new, non-stop flights between the cities and has also increased its services between Kansas City and Denver, Colorado from four to six-daily departures.

Southwest Airlines are the largest carrier at Kansas City International Airport and serve 20 destinations offering value for money flights across the United States with 70 daily departures.

It is a common nightmare for overweight passengers – not being able to fit into the narrow airline seat.

However, obese people wishing to use airlines to travel within Canada have recently received a boost from the Court of Canada.

The courts have ruled that passengers who are too large to fit into a seat should be entitled to demand another without paying extra, thus giving them two seats for the price of one.

The Court has declined to hear an appeal by the Canadian airlines and has stated that people who cannot fit into a seat are functionally disabled by disability, and should not be charged double because of this.

Malaysia Airlines looks set to become the first Asian carrier to offer in-flight mobile telephone and data services.

The airline has already tested the facility on its Boeing 777 aircraft, which have been equipped with AeroMobile. This has now been approved and certified by both the Malaysian Department of Civil Aviation and the European Air Safety Agency. The system will soon be rolled out across the airlines entire long haul fleet.

Passengers will be able to safely use their BlackBerry type devices and mobile telephones, however this is restricted to the cruise phase of the flight. They will be able to make and receive calls and send and receive text messages and emails.

Passengers will be encouraged to switch off their mobiles during “quiet” times of the flight, such as meal times.

Malaysian Airlines offers an extensive flight route from its base in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Passengers in the North of England who travel to America are set to see their journey times increase as BMI have announced that all its long haul flights to the USA and the Caribbean will be terminated in the first half of 2009.

The Airbus A330 aircraft, which operated these routes, will be moved to London.

The first route to be terminated is the Manchester – Chicago flight. This will end on 14th January 2009. Other flights to Las Vegas and the Caribbean will be terminated from April onwards.

According to BMI the routes “have never performed to the revenue levels expected”.

The arrival of the BMI A330 aircraft will allow the airline to upgrade its Heathrow – Riyadh service to 6 per week from January 15th. Three of these flights will then continue to Jeddah and three will continue to Dammam.

The other aircraft transfers will be used from Spring 09 on the Heathrow – Amman and Heathrow – Cairo routes.