This round-up is part of a feature on new flights and services from airlines, including a region-by-region look at short and mid haul routes, and the latest cabin changes from major carriers.
FA plumps for Virgin
The Football Association has chosen Virgin Atlantic as the official carrier for the England football squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
The team will jet out to Johannesburg from Heathrow on June 3 and will be able to kick back on lie-flat beds in Virgin’s Upper Class Suite after taking their fill from a specially designed menu.
Also in Africa, Virgin Atlantic plans to start flying to Ghana from Heathrow on May 24. The service will provide easy access to the country’s game reserves, national parks and beachside towns.
Thomson to Caribbean
Thomson will operate more flights to the Caribbean islands of Cuba and the Dominican Republic. It will fly to Holguin in the east of Cuba from Manchester, and to the Dominican Republic’s La Romana from Gatwick and Punta Cana from Newcastle.
Virgin creates 200 jobs
Virgin Atlantic has begun recruiting for a new customer service operation in Swansea, set to open in September. The move will create more than 200 jobs over two years. Prospective candidates can find out more at virgin-atlantic.com/careers
Manchester to New York
American Airlines is to operate a summer-only Manchester-New York service from May 16 to September 30.
Air Mauritius adds flights
Air Mauritius is to increase the frequency of its flights from the UK from three times a week this winter to five flights a week next winter, between November and March 2011.
A further weekly service will be operated during peak periods. During the summer period, from April to October, the airline will operate four flights a week, again adding an additional frequency during the peak period.
Ethiopian expands fleet
Ethiopian Airlines is looking to more than double its fleet, having placed “firm” orders for 45 new aircraft. The carrier is due to start taking delivery of eight Bombardier Q400s at the end of March, with five Boeing 777-200LRs to be delivered from November 2010.
The first of 10 B787s is due to enter service in July 2011. Ethiopian, which currently has 37 aircraft, claims its new fleet will make it “one of the youngest and greenest in Africa”. The carrier flies six times a week from Heathrow.
Air China flies UK-Taiwan
Travel to Taiwan just got a whole lot easier with Air China launching the first non-stop service to Taipei from the UK on March 28. The service uses Airbus A340-300 aircraft, offering 30 seats in business class and 246 in economy. Return fares for the thrice-weekly service lead in at £370.
LAX opens relax lounge
Los Angeles International airport (LAX) has opened a ‘pay as you go’ business lounge at its Tom Bradley International Terminal. For $25, travellers can use the reLAX lounge’s Wi-Fi and business services for up to three hours.
Work has also just begun on a four-year, £1 billion project to expand Tom Bradley International Terminal, adding lounges and retail outlets and 15 more boarding gates. The project will enable the airport to better handle new-generation aircraft such as Boeing 787s.
This article appeared in a special aviation-themed issue of Travel Weekly edited by Virgin Atlantic chief executive Steve Ridgway
