Airlines

Three weeks after the AirAsia A320 crashed into the Java Sea claiming the lives of the 162 people on board, the inquest advances. Thanks to the ongoing analysis of the two black boxes recovered, the Indonesian National Transportation Safety Committee investigators (NTSC) have excluded any possibility of a terrorist attack.
 

The Four Seasons luxury hotel chain is about to launch two, one-of-a-kind, round the world trips in 2015. The first, a 24-day world tour, will be launched in Los Angeles on 16th March. In flight, there will be personalised service worthy of a luxury hotel, with gourmet cuisine and vintage champagne on the menu.
 

Since 28th December ANA (All Nippon Airways) has put a symbol of mass tourism up for sale: a limited number of their former Boeing 747 seats. The company has of course been careful to remove the wiring and adapt the feet so that they can be placed on a normal floor without damaging it. Asking Price: between € 4,400 and € 5,100 ($5,200 - $6,000).
 

It’s more than one week after the disappearance of the AirAsia flight QZ8501, but despite various assumptions, the causes of the accident are still unknown, so let's take a brief look at this young low-cost airline that lacks nothing in comparison with other large companies.
 

On 18th December, Etihad Airways joined the closed circle of the thirteen companies that operate the A380. They have ordered ten units in total, and since the cabin layout is specific to each company that is always an prestigious event. In the coming days, Etihad Airways will strike a double blow by taking delivery of its first Boeing 787, which will enter service on 1st February.
 

With the aim of promoting Swiss cuisine on 21st November, in this A330, Swiss International Air Lines added a few light meals on the menu to their flight from Zurich to New York; and to do this, Switzerland's national airline called in one of the 50 top chefs in the world: Andreas Caminada. His name may not mean anything to you, yet the 37 year-old Swiss has three Michelin stars and 19/20 in the Gault & Millau guide.
 

Oil is very expensive, and a far cry from 2004 when a barrel of it was selling for around $40. In 2008, black gold even peaked at $180. Since then, prices have stabilized at around $130, but according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) a significant drop is on the horizon.
 

Lufthansa has just announced that they will soon be offering low-cost long haul flights; a first for a traditional European company. From the winter of 2015, under the name of Eurowings, they will propose "leisure" destinations in the Indian Ocean, South Africa and Florida from Cologne and Bonn.
 

Reclaiming Business Class clientèle to its medium-haul network is the new goal Air France has set itself, after attacking that of the long haul. On 27th November, at their company headquarters at Roissy (near Paris), the Chairman and CEO presented the new Business Class cabins seats that will be provided on some of its Airbus A319’s and A320’s from next April.
 

The US company Delta Air Lines has just finished shopping at Airbus, having bought 23 A330neo’s and 25 A350’s, all equipped with Rolls-Royce engines; the Trent 7000 for the A330neo’s and the Trent XWB for the A350’s.
 

Following the merger in January of three Air France regional airlines together under the name of "Hop!", the French national carrier has decided to accelerate the transition even further. From next summer, all Air France domestic flights within Europe, except those serving Roissy airport, will be be marketed under the brand name "Hop! Air France".
 

This year’s new Beaujolais has just arrived. Fermented for just a few weeks, this vin nouveau wine is put on sale at midnight (French time), on the third Thursday of November; and to be able to taste this vin primeur or young wine at the same time around the world, a whole logistics programme was established.
 

After the Barbie plane, here's the Hello Kitty ! Images of the famous Japanese character’s whole Sanrio family have appeared on six various types of aircraft since 2011. Their recent arrival in France on the fuselage of the Taiwanese company Eva Air’s Boeing 777, was the first of three weekly flights between Paris and Taipei, capital of Taiwan. We thought you would like to come with us to say “Hello Kitty”.
 

On 21st October, Air France launched its first weekly Toulouse - Paris green fuelled flights. For one year, the airline will use a kerosene compound composed of 10% biofuel produced from sugar cane fermentation and manufactured by a subsidiary of Total oil in Brazil. Thanks to the addition of this product to the original normal fossil fuel, the greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by 80%.
 

October 15th was a starry night for a 5-star company in Paris, when All Nippon Airways organized a party in the Cambon Capucines pavilion, during which, the Japanese company unveiled a sneak preview of their new generation uniforms soon to be worn by some 13,000 employees.
 

Qatar Airways were well and truly present on 4th October, at Longchamp racecourse near Paris. On the occasion of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, one of the world's most prestigious horse races, the Doha company introduced its new "thoroughbred" A380 First Class seat.
 

Virgin Australia has just presented their new long-haul fleet Business Class design. Dubbed "Suite" by its manufacturer B / E Aerospace, the new seat will convert into a more than two metre-long horizontal bed. A revamp by Tangerine, the London design firm.
 

After 14 days of strike, Air France management and their biggest pilots’ union (SNPL) have finally reached an agreement. But what was the longest Air France conflict, has even more than the ensuing serious consequences for the company.
 

On the occasion of the IFTM - Top Resa tourism show, which runs from 23rd., to 26th., September in Paris, Lufthansa is presenting their new Premium Economy Class seat. For an average additional cost of around 500 Euros, compared to economy class, this intermediate class provides extra comfort.