Austria


 

Current News

 

12.03.2008  
Scandinavian Airlines to launch San Francisco route

SAS Scandinavian Airlines is planning to commence its Copenhagen - San Francisco route during spring next year. It will be SAS' fifth new intercontinental route within a two-year period, including the new Copenhagen - Delhi route that will launch on October 27.

"This new route shows our commitment to provide our customers with more direct intercontinental links to and from Northern Europe," says Lars Sandahl Sørensen, Chief Executive Officer, SAS International. "In the last year we have launched Stockholm - Beijing, Stockholm - Bangkok and Copenhagen - Dubai, while we will also commence flights between Copenhagen and Delhi later this year."

"San Francisco becomes our fifth US destination and the second on the West Coast after Seattle," adds Sandahl Sørensen. "For years we have offered our customers flights to San Francisco via our gateways of Seattle and Chicago, so we are particularly excited about offering a direct link between San Francisco and Northern Europe."

The Copenhagen - San Francisco route will be served by an Airbus A340-300 with a three class configuration of Business, Economy Extra and Economy. SAS will be one of very few airlines to offer a premium Economy class between Europe and San Francisco. SAS' Economy Extra class, which features a number of Business class benefits, was also upgraded last month and now includes dedicated cabin crew, an improved meal service and better comfort onboard. Top

 

05.03.2008  
Delta Air Lines First U.S. Carrier to Take Delivery of Boeing 777-200LR

Delta Air Lines takes another step forward in its strategy to become customers’ global airline of choice with delivery of the first of eight Boeing 777-200LR Longer Range jets scheduled to enter its fleet by early 2009. By adding the world’s longest range commercial jetliner to its fleet, Delta bolsters its ability to connect customers and cargo between virtually any two cities around the globe, nonstop. The aircraft will enter scheduled service March 8 flying between Atlanta and Los Angeles and will fly on March 9 from Atlanta to Tokyo.

The new 777-200LR is the flagship aircraft for Delta’s new global product, including fully horizontal personal sleeper suites in BusinessElite®, next-generation, more comfortable seats in coach, and Delta’s on-demand entertainment system on larger screens at every seat.

BusinessElite customers will enjoy new features, including:

  • Reclining seats that adjust to multiple comfortable positions, including a completely flat 6-foot 3-inch bed;
  • Privacy screens incorporating pull-out meal table, fold-out 10.6-inch personal video screen, integrated footrest and personal stowage compartment for bags, shoes or blankets;
  • Immediate access to the aisle so customers do not have to disturb another passenger when exiting their seat;
  • USB ports offering charging ability for personal MP3 players.

Delta plans to offer sleeper suites with these amenities on its entire 777 fleet by 2010. Top

 

07.02.2008  
Scandinavian Airlines upgrades Economy Extra on long-haul routes

SAS Scandinavian Airlines has upgraded its premium economy class, Economy Extra, on its long-haul route network. The service class, which is aimed at both business travelers and discerning leisure travelers, now has dedicated crew, an improved meal service and an enhanced attention to detail.

"Constant improvement is important in our ambition to keep Economy Extra at the leading edge of the airline industry," says Gunilla Ait El Mekki, Director Product Concepts, SAS International. "We are continuously reviewing our product offerings and we felt it was natural to upgrade certain in-flight aspects. We have focused both on the quantity and quality of food, as well as how we present it."

"Economy Extra is a unique selling point for SAS, and is a service class that attracts both business travelers and leisure travelers wanting an alternative to Economy," says Lars Sandahl Sørensen, Chief Executive Officer, SAS International. "Economy Extra offers our customers a wide range of superior benefits, such as Business class check-in; bigger, wider and more comfortable seats; audio/video-on-demand; and a more attentive service. It is therefore key for us to continuously review our product offering to ensure it is a class of its own."

The recent Economy Extra upgrade, which was introduced 1 February, 2008, includes improved quality of ingredients and the introduction of new starters and desserts. Passengers now receive a larger meal tray, with an Orrefors wineglass, and a larger second meal service.

Scandinavian Airlines introduced Economy Extra in 2002 on all long-haul routes. Compared to Economy class, Economy Extra passengers enjoy wider (47cm/18"), more comfortable seats with almost a metre (38") of legroom in a separate cabin. Customers can check in at Business class counters and are eligible for Fast Track security (where available), as well as priority boarding. Passengers are also entitled to greater baggage allowance, both for check-in and an additional piece of hand luggage to take onboard.

Onboard, Economy Extra passengers receive a pre-departure drink; a cocktail and snack; a three-course dinner and coffee/tea with liqueurs; drinks, fruit and cold snacks between meals; and a meal prior to landing. All Economy Extra passengers also receive a comfort kit and a personal water bottle. Top

 

19.12.2007  
SWISS to relocate to Terminal 4 in NYC at JFK Int’l Airport

On December 20, SWISS will take residence in Terminal 4 at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. SWISS has agreed with the operators of Terminal 1, its present home, that it will move to Terminal 4 in an effort to improve the particular situation for SWISS, and help ease traffic congestion at one of the world’s busiest airports.

The decision to move from Terminal 1 to Terminal 4 was prompted by the steep increase in air traffic levels at JFK Airport in the last 12 months. The higher movement volumes have led to more delays for all carriers in handling and dispatching flights.

As a result, SWISS has seen an increase in arrival and departure delays - some of them substantial - over the past few months. So to improve the situation for all concerned, a move to Terminal 4 for SWISS was agreed upon with the operators of Terminal 1.

“We are making this move in the interests of everyone concerned, but especially of our customers”, says SWISS Chief Operating Officer Gaudenz Ambühl. “By doing so, we should see improvements in both our punctuality and the quality of our ground services. And Terminal 4 also offers us greater scope and flexibility to accommodate any future developments”, Ambühl adds.

SWISS First and SWISS Business, and Miles & More Senator passengers will be able to relax in a newly built and designed SWISS Lounge in Terminal 4. The new facility will offer comfortable private work spaces and public areas amidst a relaxing environment.

SWISS First customers travelling without baggage will be able to obtain their boarding card in the SWISS Lounge. Terminal 4 also offers a separate security checkpoint for SWISS Business and SWISS First travellers. Top

 

17.12.2007  
Lufthansa launches non-stop service to Angola

Lufthansa is continuing to extend its route network to growth markets in Africa. On 1 April 2008, following the introduction of the summer timetable, a new service will be launched between Frankfurt and the Angolan capital, Luanda. The non-stop route will be operated once a week by an Airbus 340-300 with 221 seats. "With this new service in our timetable we count already 15 destinations in Africa," says Dr. Karl-Rudolf Rupprecht, Lufthansa’s Senior Vice President Hub Management Frankfurt. "The non-stop connection to Angola will provide much better connectivity to this region, which is of key importance for the petroleum and raw materials industry. Our passengers will be able to book flights to Luanda in First, Business and Economy Class."

Lufthansa’s new service to Luanda will also open up an important growth market on the West coast of Africa. Angola is Africa’s second-largest exporter of petroleum after Nigeria and generates about 80 per cent of its national income from sales of crude oil. Many global oil companies are represented in Luanda, which has a population of about three million. Trade in other raw materials such as diamonds and ore has fuelled strong economic growth in the former Portuguese colony. Thanks to massive investment in infrastructure since the end of the civil war in 2002, Luanda has again become an important economic centre in Africa. Top