Airline briefs 15/06/12
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Airline news in brief including ITC’s private jet deal, Gulf Air’s EURO games and Vueling’s new pass.
ITC signs private jet deal
ITC Classics has partnered private jet marketplace Victor to offer the new option for its short-haul holidays. Private jet flights from Biggin Hill and Luton will be made available to Mallorca, Ibiza and Cote d’Azur, with clients needing to turn up just 10 minutes before departure and prices similar to business class seats. “We are delighted to be working with Victor to offer our clients another option of travel with affordable jet setting. The ITC Classics portfolio complements private jet travel and we feel that it is critical to be able to offer our clients something different and special for their holidays,” said Jennifer Atkinson, CEO of ITC.
Gulf Air shows Euro 2012 games in-flight
Euro 2012 games are to be shown onboard Gulf Air’s flights live through its SkyHub, it has announced. Passengers on its flights will view the games thanks to its tie-up with Sport 24, in addition to its internet and mobile phone connectivity. “It is another important milestone in our journey as we work to continuously improve our customer service and product offering, in particular in our latest inflight entertainment system, ‘Sky Hub’,” said Samer Majali, CEO of Gulf Air. “By providing our travellers with an opportunity to experience their favorite sport events, we are catering to our international sports fans across our network. In addition to broadcasting the Formula One™ races across the globe, we are now showcasing the Euro 2012 on our flights”.
VIP benefits boosted at Vueling
Spanish carrier Vueling has boosted its products for business travellers with the launch of a new Vueling Pass. The cards provide 10 visits to airport lounges and preferential boarding at Barcelona, Madrid, Alicante, Malaga, Amsterdam, Palma de Mallorca, Brussels, Rome, Lisbon and Milan. Other fast track services are offered, with bonus points and airport hotel and parking discounts offered to PUNTO members. Meanwhile in-flight, the airline has added new headrests to its DUO seats (a double seat in the first row, guaranteed hand luggage space, snack and drink included). Business passengers now account for 40% of Vueling’s customers.
Qatar Airways showcases B787 seats
Qatar Airways showcased the seats that will be used on its Dreamliner 787 at Business Travel Market earlier this week. The airline displayed the seats in the Hosted Buyer Lounge section of the show, which also showed its new inflight entertainment system. Qatar Airways’ will use its first of 60 Dreamliners on flights between Heathrow and Doha on one of its five daily flights. It will have 22 seats in business class in a 1-2-1 configuration, with 232 economy seats in 3-3-3. The carrier has launched a further 16 routes in the last year, including flights to Kolkata, Chongqing and Erbil.