Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) has introduced new sleep kits and several updated amenities for passengers seated in the Economy cabin on long-haul international flights. Sleep kits will be offered to each customer by flight attendants and will include individual eyeshades plus earplugs to help customers get better rest when travelling between continents.
In addition, on all trans-Atlantic flights of 3,850 miles or less from the U.S. to Europe, customers in the Economy cabin will receive a full-size bottle of water following meal service and updated snack offerings for morning and afternoon/evening arrivals. A mid-flight ice cream service will also be offered on these flights returning from Europe to the U.S. These service improvements will expand to longer-haul international flights in early summer.
This summer, customers flying in domestic First Class as well as the Economy cabin on domestic and international flights will be offered newly upgraded earbuds that will be theirs to keep for use with Delta’s seatback entertainment systems. Delta is the only U.S. carrier to offer personal, on demand entertainment at every seat on all long-haul, international flights.
Air Canada (Montreal) announced today it will take delivery of the first of 37 Boeing 787Dreamliner aircraft in the spring of 2014, as it continues to renew its fleet of wide-body aircraft.
As the planes are gradually introduced into its fleet, the airline will offer a preview of its new Dreamliner service on some domestic and trans-Atlantic flights on a temporary basis this spring
Beginning in July 2014, the first route that the Dreamliner will operate will be Air Canada’s Toronto (Pearson)-Tel Aviv route.
Air Canada plans to take delivery of the first of 15 787-8 series aircraft in the spring. The first delivery of 22 larger capacity 787-9 series aircraft is planned for July 2015. All 37 Boeing 787 aircraft are scheduled to be delivered by the end of 2019.
Air Canada is premiering its brand new international cabin design and seating that the airline will feature on its Boeing 787 Dreamliner fleet.ย The airline will take delivery of the first of 37 Boeing 787 aircraft in the spring of 2014.
Air Canada will provide three cabins of service on board its Boeing 787 Dreamliners highlighted by a brand new contemporary decor and comfortable ergonomic seating that features 180-degree lie-flat seats in its International Business Class cabin. An extensive choice of in-flight entertainment on enhanced definition seat back touch screens will be available for all customers along with power outlets and USB ports.
Beginning in July 2014 , the first Air Canada route to be operated with 787 Dreamliner aircraft featuring the new cabin interior and amenities will be the carrier’s Toronto – Tel Aviv route.
As the first three 787 aircraft are gradually introduced into the Air Canada fleet in the spring of 2014, the airline will offer a preview of its new Dreamliner service on select domestic Canada and trans-Atlantic flights on a temporary basis.
Contemporary New Cabin Design
With the introduction of the 787 Dreamliner into its widebody fleet, Air Canada is unveiling a contemporary, sophisticated cabin design in a palette of slate grey and neutral tones with accents of Canadian red and celeste blue.
The interior decor, cabin architecture and seating in all three cabins – International Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy – have been designed to provide customers with an exceptional travel experience.
Highlights of Air Canada’s new International Business Class cabin on the 787 Dreamliner include 20 lie-flatย Executive Podsย with an adjustable pneumatic cushion system that can be extended into a fully flat sleeping position 80 inches in length. New features that enhance the airline’s award-winning International Business cabin include:
An adjustable pneumatic cushion headrest offers a massage feature, unique for an airline in business class.
The personal entertainment screen with touch handset, at 18 inches, is the largest offered by a North American airline in business class. Universal power and USB outlets are available at each seat.
Air Canada is also debuting a new espresso and cappuccino service for International Business Class customers featuring Lavazza coffee freshly brewed onboard.
A 1-2-1 configuration guarantees direct aisle access with window views featuring the largest windows of any aircraft flying today.
Air Canada’s Premium Economy cabin on the 787 Dreamliner has 21 seats in a 2-3-2 configuration providing 38-inch legroom and generous 19.5-inch seat width and 7-inch recline. Each seat is equipped with a 9- or 11-inch enhanced definition intuitive touch personal entertainment screen, as well as universal power and USB outlets. Air Canada’s Premium Economy cabin service, unique in North America , offers premium meals, complimentary bar service and priority check-in and baggage delivery at the airport.
Air Canada’s Economy cabin has 210 slimline seats in a 3-3-3 configuration providing personal space consistent with the comfort of Air Canada’s current Economy cabin. Each seat is equipped with a 9-inch enhanced definition intuitive touch personal entertainment screen with USB outlet and a universal power outlet available at arm’s reach.
Boeing 787 Dreamliner: A New Generation in Comfort and Fuel Efficiency
Boeing is the world’s first major airliner to use composite materials in the construction of its airframe, allowing for significant fuel efficiencies, a more economical long flying range and an enhanced passenger experience with less impact on the environment. Air Canada is the only Canadian carrier to order this new generation aircraft.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is 20 per cent more fuel efficient than the Boeing 767 aircraft it will replace.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner provides passengers with an unparalleled passenger experience:
A quieter, smoother flight, lower cabin pressure, higher humidity levels and ambient mood lighting contribute to a more rested feeling upon arrival;
Windows are 30 per cent larger than those on most similarly sized airplanes and feature an electrochromatic electronic dimming system;
A more spacious interior cabin design featuring larger overhead bins;
Cleaner air continuously circulating through an advanced filtration system.
Air Canada will take delivery of the first of 15 787-8 aircraft in spring 2014. The first delivery of 22 larger capacity 787-9 aircraft is planned for July 2015 . All 37 Boeing 787 aircraft are scheduled to be delivered by the end of 2019.
As Air Canada takes delivery of new widebody aircraft for its mainline fleet, current Boeing 767 and Airbus A319 aircraft will be transferred to its leisure carrier subsidiary, Air Canada rouge.
Air Canada is Canada’s largest domestic and international airline serving more than 175 destinations on five continents. Canada’s flag carrier is among the 20 largest airlines in the world and in 2012 served close to 35 million customers.ย Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly toย 60 Canadian cities, 49 destinations in the United States andย 67 cities in Europe , the Middle East , Asia , Australia , the Caribbean , Mexico and South America . Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance , the world’s most comprehensive air transportation network serving 1,328 destinations inย 195 countries. Air Canada is the only international network carrier in North America to receive a Four-Star ranking according to independent U.K. research firm Skytrax that ranked Air Canada in a worldwide survey of more than 18 million airline passengers as Best Airline in North America in 2013 for the fourth consecutive year.
US Airways (Phoenix) is upgrading its international product while making international travel more comfortable and convenient with several in-flight enhancements starting this spring and summer.
Beginning May 1, passengers traveling in the Economy cabin will receive complimentary headsets and complimentary wine with their main meal on flights to and from Europe, the Middle East and South America. Earlier this month, the airline also expanded DineFresh, its premium chilled meal option paired with wine that has been available on trans-Atlantic flights departing its hubs at Philadelphia and Charlotte, N.C. since last August, to select trans-Atlantic flights headed to Philadelphia and Charlotte. DineFresh meals are priced at $21.99 and must be pre-ordered at least 24 hours prior to departure.
In July, US Airways will introduce new amenity kits in Envoy, its international business class. The airline has teamed up with Red Flower, a New York-based, eco-friendly beauty and lifestyle brand, to offer passengers traveling in Envoy a soft classic jute-lined bag filled with delicately scented botanical products including Ocean moisturizing body lotion, Italian Blood Orange lip balm and an Italian Blood Orange facial towelette with whole essential oils of pink grapefruit and blood orange which provide an instant boost and a sense of invigoration.
“As a world traveler, it brings me great joy andย excitementย to see Red Flower partnered with US Airways,” says Red Flower founder Yael Alkalay. “Red Flower is a trendsetter in beauty and wellness, drawing inspiration from curative global traditions and the potent force of nature. We share our mission of creatingย extraordinaryย experiences with US Airways. Through this partnership, we hope to enhance and bring a sense of comfort, well-being and a lift of energy and spirit while traveling the skies.”ย
In addition to the new Red Flower offerings, the amenity kit will contain socks, eyeshades, earplugs, tissues, a pen, toothbrush, toothpaste and mouthwash to ensure that customers traveling in Envoy arrive at their destination relaxed, refreshed and ready to do business.
“We’ve invested in improvements that will make international travel for business and leisure customers more comfortable and convenient,” said Andrew Nocella, US Airways’ senior vice president, Marketing and Planning “The enhancements were based on customer and employee feedback and are launching as we resume seasonal summer service to ten European cities and begin new service to Sao Paulo, Brazil.”
In May, US Airways resumes daily seasonal service to Athens, Greece; Barcelona, Spain; Glasgow, Scotland; Lisbon, Portugal; Shannon, Ireland and Venice, Italy from Philadelphia. Daily, seasonal service will also operate from Charlotte hub to Dublin, Ireland; Madrid, Spain; Paris and Rome. Additional seasonal frequencies are also being added to Frankfurt, Germany from both Philadelphia and Charlotte, giving customers a choice of four daily non-stop flights from the East Coast. The seasonal flights supplement existing year-round service to 12 destinations in Europe and the Middle East. On June 8, US Airways will launch daily, non-stop year-round service to Sao Paulo, Brazil from Charlotte.
The enhancements in Envoy and economy follow a multi-million dollar investment in upgrades to US Airways’ domestic First Class service and the addition of Gogo inflight internet on more than 90 percent of the US Airways fleet. On April 1, the airline began offering customers in First Class a choice of snacks in addition to their meal on long-haul flights and a continental-style breakfast on the go that includes a yogurt smoothie, croissant, almond butter, jam and a mint on overnight long-haul flights.
Air Canada (Montreal) has announced it will introduce a new International Premium Economy cabin for customers seeking enhanced comfort and service on international flights as it continues to modernize its widebody fleet with the addition of five new Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft.
Complementing its Economy and Executive First options on international flights, Air Canada’s new Premium Economy cabin will offer customers a wide range of benefits including a dedicated cabin featuring larger seats that are wider, providing more recline, with seven more inches of legroom than Economy and are never more than one seat from the aisle (due to a 2-4-2 configuration).ย Customers will also be offered premium meals with complimentary bar service and priority check-in and baggage delivery at the airport. More information on Air Canada’s new Premium Economy cabin is available atย www.aircanada.com/premiumeconomy.
Air Canada’s Premium Economy cabin will be introduced on Air Canada’s Montreal-Paris flights effective July 11 , 2013.ย Additional routes offering Premium Economy will be added over time as new aircraft enter the carrier’s mainline fleet.
Air Canada will expand and modernize its international widebody fleet with the addition of five new Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft. In addition to two Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft previously announced that will be delivered in June and August 2013 , Air Canada today announced that it will add three new Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft to be delivered in November and December 2013 and February 2014.ย With the addition of these five aircraft, Air Canada’s Boeing 777 fleet will consist of 23 aircraft comprising the latest generation of 300 ER and 200 LR models.
Air Canada’s five new Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft will be the first aircraft configured with the carrier’s new Premium Economy cabin prior to the arrival of Boeing 787 aircraft scheduled to begin delivery in 2014.ย The five Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft will also offer a larger Economy cabin as Air Canada will strategically deploy these aircraft on select international markets with high volume demand for economy travel.
The five Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft that will begin delivery in June 2013 will be configured with a larger Economy cabin with 398 new “slimline” leather seats providing 31-inch legroom consistent with the comfort of Air Canada’s current Economy cabin, while the dedicated Premium Economy cabin of 24 leather seats will provide 38-inch legroom along with other enhanced comfort features.ย Air Canada’s Executive First cabin will offer 36 seats that convert into 180-degree lie-flat beds in a staggered configuration of one or two, to allow customers traveling alone or with a companion to choose their preferred seating and sleeping options.ย Customers in all three cabins of service will enjoy an enhanced individual seat back in-flight entertainment system with hundreds of hours of complimentary audio visual entertainment options featuring larger screens and customer-friendly technology by Panasonic.
In addition to the introduction of Premium Economy, new seats and a leading edge entertainment system, Air Canada’s five new Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft will provide customers with a refreshed interior colour palette in modern, neutral tones unique to these aircraft pending the official launch of Air Canada’s future in-flight product and cabin design that will be made in conjunction with the introduction of Boeing 787 aircraft into its fleet.
Air Canada’s 37 Boeing 787 aircraft will feature a brand new, enhanced version of Air Canada’s award-winning Executive First lie-flat beds and product that has yet to be announced, in addition to Premium Economy and Economy options.ย The Boeing 787 fleet will be deployed on the carrier’s current and future high premium demand international routes.
On the financial side, Air Canada reported full year and fourth quarter earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and impairment, and aircraft rent (“EBITDAR”) of $1.451 billion (or $1.327 billion before the impact of benefit plan amendments) compared to EBITDAR of $1.242 billion in 2011.ย Including the favourable impact of benefit plan amendments, EBITDAR of $1.451 billion increased $209 million year-over-year (or $85 million before the impact of benefit plan amendments).ย On a GAAP basis, in 2012, net income was $131 million or $0.45 per diluted share compared to a net loss of $249 million or $0.92 per diluted share in 2011.ย On an adjusted basis, net income was $53 million or $0.19 per diluted share compared to a net loss of $122 million or $0.44 per diluted share in 2011.
For the fourth quarter of 2012, Air Canada reported EBITDAR of $284 million compared to EBITDAR of $162 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, an improvement of $122 million.ย On a GAAP basis, in the fourth quarter of 2012, Air Canada reported net income of $8 million or $0.03 per diluted share compared to a net loss of $60 million or $0.22 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2011.ย Air Canada reported an adjusted net loss of $6 million or $0.02 per diluted share compared to an adjusted net loss of $167 million or $0.60 per diluted share in the same quarter in 2011.
Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best. Boeing 777-333 ER C-FIUW (msn 35249) completes its final approach into London (Heathrow).
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