Business Aviation

SriLankan Airlines set to launch FFP

SriLankan Airlines will be launching a new Frequent Flyer Programme (FFP) offering an exciting rewards scheme for all its loyal passengers, commencing April 1.

The FFP, which will include a range of benefits, prizes and ways to spend your earned air miles, will be unveiled soon.

“Our new frequent flyer programme will have its own unique identity and logo and its membership will be open to passengers who fly SriLankan Airlines to any destination on our route network of 54 destinations” said Regional Manager of the Commercial Department Mohamed Fazeel who will be spearheading the new FFP.

The programme will take into consideration the preferences of the airline’s passengers around the network and will include a range of new and improved offers to provide more convenience and benefits to frequent flyers.

All current Skywards members holding mileage balances will have the option of transferring their miles to the new FFP.

All SriLankan Airlines’ Skywards members will continue their membership and rewards available on Emirates flights and from other leisure and lifestyle partners.

SriLankan’s agreement with Skywards will expire with the ending of the airline’s management contract with Emirates on March 31. Nevertheless, SriLankan Airlines will continue to honour Skywards reward tickets, for a further period of 12 months commencing March 31.

Air Arabia CEO in Sri Lanka

Air Arabia’s CEO, Adel Ali was in Sri Lanka briefly and during his visit was felicitated by Chairman Nawaloka Aviation, Jayantha Dharmadasa. He also met with Ministry and Aviation officials and had very fruitful discussions.

Air Arabia is represented locally by Nawaloka Aviation and since commencing flights into Sri Lanka in 2004, now flies daily out of Colombo and into Sharjah.

Air Arabia, one of the world’s fastest growing airlines, has ordered 49 new Airbus to augment their fleet, and currently flies to 39 destinations. Air Arabia was also named ‘Low Cost Carrier of the Year’ at the Aviation Business Awards. Air Arabia would shortly open a second hub in Morocco to serve Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Ali said.

Air Arabia has already commenced a Nepal hub operation and have launched FlyYeti.com, which is currently flying to Malaysia and will shortly be increasing their destinations.

He predicted a rapid growth in the Middle East aviation sector and looked forward to the continuation of Air Arabia’s successful operations in Sri Lanka.

Emirates for Guangzhou

The ancient city of Guangzhou, now China’s economic powerhouse, will join Emirates’ sprawling six-continent non-stop network on July 1.

Slated to play an important role in the 100-plus destinations on Emirates’ route map, Guangzhou will be Emirates’ fourth gateway in China, after Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong.

Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, spoke about the rationale of launching services into the city: “Guangzhou is a vital link in our strategic plans for both China and the Asia-Pacific region.

The city has been on our radar for some time as it is the heartbeat of the Guangdong Province and hums with its political, socio-economic, scientific, educational and cultural life.

Guangzhou serves as an air travel hub for Guangdong and the South China provinces, which significantly expands our span and reach.

“The Emirates Group is no stranger to Guangzhou, as through our subsidiary in Singapore, Changi International Airport Services, we hold a 20 per cent stake in Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Handling Co., which provides ground handling services at the airport,” he said.

Starting July 1, Emirates’ EK362 will fly non-stop to Guangzhou four times weekly on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays with an Airbus A330-200 in a two class configuration - 27 seats in Business and 251 in Economy. Beginning October 1, Emirates will also fly the route on Fridays.

Emirates’ services to Guangzhou will conveniently connect travellers from Europe, particularly those from UK, France, Germany and Switzerland, and American cities New York and Houston.

Travellers from Africa and the Middle East, particularly Cape Town, Lagos, Cairo, Amman, Kuwait, Addis Ababa, Nairobi and Beirut, are also well-served with a four to seven hour connection in Dubai.

Guangzhou is the third largest air travel hub in China and the capital of the Guangdong province, taking economic centre stage in the Pearl River Delta industrial zone.

Earning the moniker “factory of the world”, Guangdong province has the largest GDP and the highest value of exports, attracting a high percentage of foreign direct investments and nearly 200 Fortune 500 companies.

The Canton Fair held twice every year entices entrepreneurs and executives from around the world. Guangzhou is not just about industry and manufacturing.

All-business class long haul to fly between Singapore and USA

Singapore Airlines will convert its five Airbus A340-500 ultra-long-range aircraft into an all-Business Class configuration, for daily flights between Singapore and New York, and Singapore and Los Angeles.

The current 2-class, 181 seat, arrangement will be replaced with 100 of the Airline’s new award-winning Business Class seats, in a 4-abreast, 1-2-1, layout. Each seat is upholstered in leather, and is 30 inches (76 cm) wide.

This new configuration will position Singapore Airlines as the first to operate an all-Business Class service on the Transpacific route.

Every seat will have direct access to the aisle, and will convert to a fully-flat bed. The new Business Class seats are the same design as those fitted on the Airline’s A380 and B777-300ER fleet.

Singapore Airlines Executive Vice President Marketing and Regions, Huang Cheng Eng, said the change recognises the popularity from business travellers for the award-winning Business Class products introduced on other aircraft type.

“The new Business Class is being very well-received by our customers on long-range flights. The new product is the perfect fit for the ultra-long-haul services between Singapore and the USA.

“The peak demand for the non-stop flights is from our Business Class customers, and this change will expand Business Class capacity from 64 to 100 seats on each flight,” Huang said.

The implementation will be phased in gradually from mid May, 2008, on the Singapore-New York route, with daily services in the new all-Business Class arrangement to New York by end June, and Los Angeles by late September, 2008. The programme will require each of the five A340-500 aircraft to be retrofitted in turn.