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Malaysia Airlines passengers to get more In-Flight Entertainment
A new in-flight entertainment system has been rolled out on Malaysia Airlines offering entertainment improvements to its long haul passengers.
Thai Airways upgrades cabins on Boeing 747-400 aircraft
Thai Airways has launched its first Boeing 747-400 aircraft following a series of retrofits across its fleet. The newly retrofitted Boeing 747-400 aircraft boasts revamped passenger cabins, improved in-flight entertainment and will operate on flights from Bangkok to London from the end of October 2011 and later to a few other European cities. Read more
US Airways rolls out Gogo inflight internet on Airbus A321 fleet
US Airways has launched a new wireless Internet product, Gogo(R) Inflight Internet, on five of its Airbus A321 aircraft. Gogo, which is provided by Aircell, allows passengers to use their laptops or Wi-Fi enabled mobile devices to surf the Web, email friends and family, log into corporate Virtual Private Networks (VPN) and access online entertainment options.
By 1st June all 51 Airbus A321s in US Airways’ fleet will be Gogo-equipped. As Wi-Fi is installed on each aircraft between now and June, a Wi-Fi symbol on the outside of the plane at the boarding door will alert passengers that Gogo is available on their flight. The symbol will also appear throughout the cabin next to the seat and row number, and seatback cards will provide instructions on how to access the service. Beginning in late June, US Airways’ passengers will be able to determine if Wi-Fi is available on their flight when they book travel on www.usairways.com.
Here’s how it works: At 10,000 feet, US Airways’ flight attendants will make an announcement that passengers can enable their Wi-Fi devices. Passengers can connect to the service by turning on their laptop or mobile device, looking for and connecting to the ‘gogoginflight’ Wi-Fi signal, launching their Web browser, creating a profile and paying for their session with a major credit card.
“Gogo fits in perfectly with our business model by offering more choices in flight,” said Andrew Nocella, senior vice president, marketing and planning for US Airways. “Our customers are able to be more productive with their time and have new ways to stay entertained in the air.”
“We are pleased to announce US Airways’ deployment of Gogo, and we look forward to providing US Airways with inflight Internet access to enhance their customers’ travel experience,” said Michael Small, Aircell’s president and chief executive officer. “The ability to remain connected to the ground at 30,000 feet provides a significant improvement to the airline travel experience. As travelers throughout the country come to expect inflight Internet service, we are thrilled to be able to deliver this experience to US Airways and their passengers.”
To introduce Gogo, US Airways is allowing customers the chance to try it for free. From March 29 through June 1, first-time Gogo users will get one free session when they create their profile. US Airways will celebrate the completion of its fleet installation by offering free Gogo access to everyone who flies on a Wi-Fi equipped US Airways flight from 1st – 8th June. For more information, visit www.usairways.com/gogo.
Pricing for Gogo Inflight Internet varies by flight length and the type of device used. See the price chart below for details.
Flight length Up to 1.5 hours 1.5 to 3 hours Over 3 hours
Laptop/netbook $4.95 $9.95 $12.95
Mobile device $4.95 $7.95 $7.95
*Gogo Inflight Internet is nog available internationally. If you’re flying to/from an international city, the service will only be available while over the contiguous 48 U.S. states and within 100 miles of its borders. For more information, visit www.usairways.com/gogo.
Cabin and Inflight Entertainment improvements for Qantas Boeing 747 and Airbus A380 fleet
Qantas announced today it would invest $400 million to upgrade seats and inflight entertainment on nine Boeing 747-400 aircraft, and reconfigure its Airbus A380 fleet to meet the changing demands of the airline’s international customers.
Qantas Chief Executive Officer, Mr Alan Joyce, said the changes would provide all long haul customers with a leading edge and consistent inflight experience and ensure the airline was best placed to meet forecast changes in premium cabin demand.
“The major upgrade will give all our long haul customers access to our award winning seats and inflight entertainment Qantas offers on its flagship aircraft, the A380,” Mr Joyce said.
“Customer feedback on the Qantas A380 experience is overwhelmingly positive, and this experience, including the fully flat Skybed in Business, the all-new Economy seat and the inflight entertainment system will be available to customers travelling on Qantas B747-400 services.”
“We are committed to investing in premium customer product and service – to meet the increasingly sophisticated needs of our customers, maximise yields and generate revenue and investor returns.”
Mr Joyce said Qantas would always be a premium airline committed to offering a premium experience, and First Class would remain available on A380 services where demand existed.
“Maintaining a First offering on flagship routes is essential for Qantas as a premium airline. It is vital that we align this offering with forecast demand which is expected to be relatively slow compared to Business, Premium Economy and Economy,” he said.
“Our 14 Airbus A380 First suites will be offered on twelve aircraft and on daily services from Sydney and Melbourne to London via Singapore and Los Angeles.”
Mr Joyce said the changes were being made to respond to shifting travel trends across the globe.
“While some travel markets are recovering from the economic crisis, our assessment of longer term travel trends, which pre-dates the economic crisis, shows that international premium travel demand is changing,” Mr Joyce said.
“Just as Qantas was quick to respond to the downturn, we are now ensuring we are best placed to take advantage of the recovery and continue to invest in fleet, product and service.
“These changes will ensure we remain competitive in terms of aircraft configuration, product and service and that we are better able to ensure capacity is more closely aligned with demand.
“They will also add the equivalent capacity of more than three Boeing 747-400s, ensuring we can support future growth while reducing the need to purchase additional aircraft.
“The split A380 fleet will give Qantas greater flexibility to schedule the right aircraft, and the right configuration, on the right route, based on market demand.”
Details of the changes:
Boeing 747-400
* nine B747-400 will be upgraded and fitted with Qantas’ A380 standard seats and inflight product, including a fully flat Skybed sleeper seat in Business, an award-winning Marc Newson designed and Recaro manufactured seat in Economy and state-of-the-art on-demand Panasonic inflight entertainment in all classes
* First class cabins will be removed and Business seats installed in their place
* the three-class configuration will offer 359 seats (58 Business, 36 Premium Economy and 265 Economy), an increase of 52 seats overall
Airbus A380
* 12 A380s will continue to fly with a four-class configuration, including First class, but be refitted to reduce Business seating and increase Premium Economy and Economy seating
* the remaining eight aircraft will be delivered from 2012 in a three-class configuration and with no First cabin
* A380 seat numbers are to be confirmed subject to discussions with Airbus and suppliers
The upgrade and reconfiguration program will commence at the end of 2011 and is scheduled for completion by the end of 2013. It will be funded through the combination of operating cash flows and pre-existing debt facilities. The majority of capital expenditure will take place in 2012.
Korean Air resumes flights to St. Petersburg
Korean Air will resume services to St. Petersburg as from March 30, the beginning of the summer season in the northern hemisphere. The Incheon -St. Petersburg flights will operate three times a week- Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday – utilizing an Airbus A330 aircraft seating 226 passengers. KE929 departs Seoul/Incheon at 17:45pm and arrives in St. Petersburg at 22:20pm the same day. The return flight KE930 departs St. Petersburg at 23:50pm for an overnight flight that arrives at Seoul/Incheon at 13:30pm the next day. Read more
