Emirates unveils more spacious Business Class seats on its Boeing 777-200LR aircraft

Emirates has unveiled a brand new Business Class cabin and configuration on its Boeing 777-200LR aircraft, with new wider seats laid out in a 2-2-2 configuration for the first time.

The airline has invested over $150 million (US) to refurbish the 10 existing Boeing 777-200LR aircraft in its fleet.

The newly refurbished Emirates 777-200LR aircraft is set in a two-class configuration which offers 38 Business Class seats and 264 seats in Economy Class. While the Business Class seats are in the same design and shape of Emirates’ latest lie-flat seats, they are now two inches wider for a more comfortable journey. The seats retain the champagne coloured finish and diamond stitch pattern on the full leather cover, and the ergonomically designed headrest revealed on Emirates’ newest Boeing 777 in November.

The Business Class seat has a pitch of 72 inches and moves into a fully flat sleeping position. It also has touchscreen controls for the seat and inflight entertainment system, several personal lighting options, privacy panels between seats, a shoe stowage area, footrest and a personal mini-bar.

Luxury and comfort are at the heart of Emirates’ product refresh as overhead bins in centre of the cabin have been removed for an airier and more spacious feel on board. The cabin boasts electronic windows and the largest personal in-flight entertainment (IFE) screens in Business Class at 23 inches wide.

The cabin also features the Ghaf tree – considered the national tree of the United Arab Emirates, and now a signature design on the latest Emirates aircraft.

In addition, the new Business Class cabin features a social area (above) – unique to the Boeing 777-200LR fleet. The mini lounge area (above) features snacks such as crisps, sandwiches and fruit, as well as beverages for customers to help themselves to during the flight.

The offering will complement Emirates’ full service of regionally inspired cuisine prepared by gourmet chefs, and accompanied by some of the most exclusive wines, champagnes and spirits in the world.

Economy class seats (above) onboard the 777-200LR have also been refreshed to the latest colour palette of soft greys and blues. The ergonomically designed seats come with full leather headrests that have flexible side panels and can also be adjusted vertically for optimum support. Customers can enjoy up to 3,000 channels of on-demand entertainment in ice with 600 movies, over 200 hours of TV, and thousands of music tracks every month. The aircraft is also equipped with Wi-Fi and Live TV across all classes.

Emirates’ newly refurbished 777-200LR aircraft will go into service on March 6 to Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood (below). This is the first of 10 aircraft which will be retrofitted with the new configuration over the course of the year. The refurbished 777-200LR aircraft is planned for several destinations including Emirates’ most recently announced destination – Santiago, Chile.

Copyright Photo Below (all others by Emirates): Emirates Airline Boeing 777-21H LR A6-EWF (msn 35586) FLL (Bruce Drum). Image: 104633.

Emirates aircraft slide show:

Talks between Transavia and the Dutch Airline Pilots Association (VNV) have stalled

Transavia Airlines (Netherlands) made this announcement:

Transavia is disappointed to have to announce that the talks with the VNV have stalled following several days of constructive negotiations. We listened carefully to employees and made a last-ditch attempt to reach a collective agreement. Agreement was reached on the most important issue of the stabilisation of schedules.

Alongside the stabilisation of schedules, the negotiations involved the Loss of License scheme and the wage section. Constructive talks have been held and a lot of progress has been made. With regard to the stabilisation of schedules, Transavia finally agreed to all of the guarantees demanded by VNV.

“We listen to our travellers and we want to be able to offer them affordable tickets in the future. It would be irresponsible on the part of Transavia to make further concessions to VNV’s pay demands given the room required to keep the company healthy in the long term”, said Mattijs ten Brink, General Manager of Transavia.

As regards the Loss of License scheme, it was agreed that Transavia will cooperate with the setting up and funding of the scheme under the supervision of the VNV. This was in accordance with the wishes of the pilots.

Unfortunately, the VNV suspended the negotiations on February 27. The sticking point seems to be the third issue, namely the wage section. Transavia regrets the stalling of the talks, in particular given the statement by the chairman of the VNV that “in terms of money, we were actually already in agreement.”

Transavia has proposed to appoint an independent mediator for the pay dispute. Although we do not expect this to be resolved in the near future, Transavia remains open to a constructive and unanimous solution. This is in the interests of the pilots, all our other colleagues and of our passengers and partners.

Copyright Photo: Transavia Airlines (Netherlands) Boeing 737-7K2 WL PH-XRV (msn 34170) ZRH (Paul Bannwarth). Image: 941135.

Transavia Airlines (Netherlands) aircraft slide show:

MEA unveils its entirely renovated Cedar Lounge in Beirut

MEA has issued this statement about its new Cedar Lounge in Beirut:

The New Cedar Lounge extends over an area of 3000sq.m. with a capacity of 450 seated passengers.

The approach of the new design complements the contemporary traveler, whereby seating is more defined in its zones according to the needs of each type of visitor, (individual zone, family zone, etc…) as well as being equipped with the latest state of the art technologies, and finest designer furniture selection.

The space is now able to accommodate almost double the number of persons, in several determined zones, namely; a family zone, a business area, a general seating area, a dining zone, a smoking zone, a kids’ area, a spa with beauty services and massage therapy, and a central sky-lit more casual communal green space linking all the zones together.

To keep the traveler connected, the seats are equipped with USB charging ports and power outlets, all the zones are equipped with several large screens of the latest resolution and smart technology, as well as other screens indicating departure times visible to every area.

Smart technologies are not only found in the screens, the lounge hosts a sensor-equipped dimmable lighting system technology which changes color according to the amount of light coming in from the outside. Letting alone the eminent designer fixtures selected to light up the spaces.

The lounge would not be complete without its distinguished food, attainable from two large buffet bars served by a large newly-equipped industrial kitchen. The buffet bars spread out would amount to around 25 linear meters of food. In addition, beverages are obtained from 4 coffee stations, and 2 alcoholic beverage bars spread out evenly across the lounge.

Bottom Copyright Photo (all others by MEA): MEA-Middle East Airlines Airbus A320-232 WL T7-MRF (msn 7006) LHR (SPA). Image: 941133.

MEA aircraft slide show:

A double roll-out for the first Airbus A330neo operator, TAP Air Portugal

The initial two Airbus A330neo jetliners destined for an airline operator have rolled out of the paint shop bearing the red and green livery of TAP Air Portugal, which will become the launch operator of this new member in Airbus’ A330 family – the most popular widebody family ever.

Both aircraft received the Portuguese airline’s branding at paint facilities in the Toulouse region of southern France – location of the A330 final assembly line and home to Airbus headquarters. These jetliners include the “A330neo / first to fly” wording on the fuselage, underscoring their upcoming role as the first to enter commercial airline service.

When in operation, the aircraft will join TAP Air Portugal’s already large fleet of Airbus-built jetliners, composed of A330s, A340s and A320 Family versions. TAP Air Portugal has ordered 10 A330neo aircraft and will operate a similar number on lease.

The A330neo: new generation, new efficiency

The A330neo brings together unbeatable economics and the proven values of Airbus’ popular A330 product line. Equipped with extended-span wings incorporating upturned Sharklets wingtips, it is powered by new Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines.

Airlines will benefit from the 25 percent less fuel burn per seat compared to previous-generation competitors, along with reduced maintenance costs and the A330’s market-leading 99.5 percent operational reliability.

TAP Air Portugal’s A330neo jetliners will incorporate the new Airspace by Airbus cabin concept – a consumer-centric interior based on four values: comfort, ambience, service and design. Airspace features include overhead bins with an updated design that improves carry-on stowage capacity by approximately 66 percent; illumination using light-emitting diode (LED) technology offering up to 16.7 million possible colour variations and lighting scenarios to reflect an airline’s branding; along with upgrades to such cabin items as magazine racks, ventilation grilles and window bezels.

Photo: Airbus.

United expands its “Snack Shop and Bistro on Board” menu

United Airlines on March 1 announced it has expanded its menu selections for the Snack Shop and Bistro on Board and created a brand new menu for customers flying from Canada to the U.S.

Additionally, starting this summer, the exclusive vodka brand offered on all of the airline’s flights worldwide will be Wheatley Vodka, a craft distilled vodka created by the same makers as the award-winning Buffalo Trace bourbon.

Wheatley Vodka, a craft distilled vodka created by the same makers as the award-winning Buffalo Trace bourbon, will be available summer 2018. (PRNewsfoto/United Airlines)

Organic Jerky Among New Snack Shop Offerings

United will be the first airline to feature Think Jerky as one of the newcomers onboard with their Sweet Chipotle beef flavor. Think Jerky, which only uses grass-fed beef, was added to the menu in response to customer requests for a new meat-based snack onboard. A new organic nut mix from Nuts.com, along with an updated Cheese and Crackers Box that contains items like Everything ParmCrisps™ and two cheese options round out the new Snack Shop items. Customers who enjoy United’s snackboxes can now purchase a newly designed Classic Snackbox that has been updated to have a more ‘Americana’ flavor with items like a SMASHMALLOW® root beer float marshmallow, pretzels, Oreo cookies, and Twizzlers.

Bistro on Board Features New Breakfast, Lunch Options

New breakfast and lunch meal choices are now available on the Bistro on Board menu. The biscuit breakfast sandwich, another United exclusive, is a hot entrée selection that features a 100% cage-free home style fried egg. For customers who prefer a cold breakfast entree, the new Mixed Berry Breakfast Bowl comes with fresh ingredients like berries, pecans, and granola and is served with a Chobani® Mixed Berry Greek yogurt drink. For lunch, the Mezze Sampler has been updated with a new wheat berry salad that comes with quinoa, edamame and corn.

New Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Menu Created for Canada

In response to customer requests for meals made with regional flavors, United worked with chefs in Canada to create selections inspired by local ingredients. For breakfast, a Maple Ham Breakfast Sandwich that pairs Black Forest ham with maple butter on a croissant is now available. For lunch or dinner, a Hummus Sampler and a Forty Creek Barbecue Burger that features Forty Creek whiskey barbecue sauce are also available along with a Sun-dried Tomato Pesto Chicken Wrap. These options are served on most flights over three hours from Canada to the U.S.

Craft Distilled Vodka Boarding This Summer

Beginning this summer, United is excited to serve Wheatley Vodka, an award-winning handcrafted vodka made from the same master distiller who produces Buffalo Trace, the popular bourbon the airline currently serves onboard. Buffalo Trace Distillery, considered the world’s most award-winning distillery, uses the same wheat to produce Wheatley Vodka as is used to produce legendary bourbons such as Pappy Van Winkle and Weller.

Vodka is the number one-selling spirit served on United flights. Wheatley Vodka will be available for purchase in the economy cabin on flights where a beverage service is offered. Customers flying in United’s premium cabins may enjoy the spirit at no cost.

New and Updated Choice Menu Selections – Full Details

New Snack Options March 1	Price	Details
Nuts.com CB&J Mix	$4.99	Butter toffee cashews, roasted salted cashews, dried strawberries, raisins, sliced cranberries
Think Jerky	$4.99	Sweet Chipotle Grass-Fed Beef Jerky
Updated Snackboxes March 1	Price	Details
Cheese and Crackers Snackbox	$6.99	Bagel chips, roasted poblano cheddar dip, chocolate square, Everything ParmCrisps™, vintage cheddar cheese, white cheddar cheese
Classic Snackbox	$9.59	Cheddar spread, Oreo’s, pretzel crisps, root beer float marshmallow, salami, Twizzlers
New Breakfast Items March 1	Price	Details
Biscuit breakfast sandwich	$7.99	100% Cage-free homestyle fried egg, smoked Canadian bacon and cheddar cheese on a buttermilk biscuit.
Mixed berry breakfast bowl	$6.99	Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, slivered pecans, sunflower seeds and vanilla granola served with a Chobani® Mixed Berry Greek yogurt drink
Updated Lunch Item March 1	Price	Details
Mezze Sampler	$9.99	Wheat berry salad with quinoa, edamame and corn, sun-dried tomato basil hummus, almonds and triangle pita pieces
New Menu Items (Canada) March 1	Price	Details
Maple ham breakfast sandwich	$7.99	Black Forest ham, cheddar cheese and maple butter on a croissant
Hummus sampler	$9.99	Carrot edamame salad, red pepper hummus and herbed pita wedges
Forty Creek barbecue burger	$9.99	All-beef patty, white cheddar cheese and Forty Creek whiskey barbecue sauce on a pretzel bun
Sun-dried tomato pesto chicken wrap	$9.99	Chicken, Havarti cheese, lettuce and sun-dried tomato pesto in a tortilla wrap

All new menu items and refreshed snackboxes are available for purchase on flights within the U.S. with a scheduled flight time of more than 3.5 hours and on all international flights from the U.S. to Canada, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Snack Shop items including the Tapas, Classic, Select and Ben Flyin’ Kid’s snackboxes are available on all flights over 1.5 hours within North America, including the Caribbean and select Latin American cities and flights to and from Singapore and Australia. Canadian menu items are available on flights from Canada to the U.S. over 3 hours.

All photos by United Airlines.

Frontier Airlines returns to Little Rock

Frontier Airlines on March 1 celebrated the return of new low-cost, nonstop flights to Denver from Little Rock’s Clinton International Airport.

Photo: Frontier Airlines.

Wizz Air expands operations at Vienna

Wizz Air has announced a major expansion of its Vienna operations. Following the base establishment with three aircraft this year, Wizz will deploy two additional Airbus A321s at Vienna Airport by March 2019, growing its annual capacity to over 2 million seats on sale.

Wizz’s offer from Austria will include nine new routes from Vienna to Nice in France, Keflavik (Reykjavik) in Iceland, Catania and Milan in Italy, Lisbon in Portugal, Madrid in Spain, Malmo and Stockholm Skavsta in Sweden, and Kharkiv in Ukraine. The newest WIZZ services will commence in February and March 2019.

WIZZ AIR’S NEW ROUTES FROM VIENNA

Destination	Days	Starts	Fares From**
Catania	Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday	23 February 2019	29.99€
Kharkiv	Wednesday, Sunday (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday from 23 March 2019)	25 November 2018	29.99€
Lisbon	Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday	22 February 2019	39.99€
Madrid	Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday (daily from 22 March 2019)	23 February 2019	29.99€
Malmo	Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday	22 March 2019	19.99€
Milan Malpensa	Daily	22 February 2019	19.99€
Nice	Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday	22 February 2019	29.99€
Reykjavik	Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday	23 March 2019	49.99€
Stockholm Skavsta	Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday	22 March 2019	19.99€

**one-way, including taxes and non-optional charges

Wizz Air aircraft slide show:

Cargojet to start Hamilton – Miami – Bogota cargo flights

Cargojet Airways will add a new cargo route linking its Hamilton, ON cargo hub with Bogota via Miami. The new route will add to its existing network (see below).

The new service will commence on March 16 and will be operated with Boeing 767-300F freighters and will operate two days a week.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by Cargojet): Cargojet Airways Boeing 767-328 ER (F) C-GVIJ (msn 27212) SVO (OSDU). Image: 931321.

Cargojet aircraft slide show:

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Video: Cockpit View: South African Airbus A340-600 Johannesburg – Munich

From Just Planes: JustPlanes filming on the flightdeck of the South African Airways Airbus A340-600 (ZS-SNE) operating flight SA264 from Johannesburg to Munich.

After 10 hours 23 minutes of flight we make our final approach and get some nice views after sunrise especially on final approach.