SriLankan Airlines Presents A 'Priceless' Offer

SriLankan Airlines recently announced an exciting offer for its business class travellers to add a pinch of excitement and thrill to their whole holiday experience. On every business class trip to Sri Lanka from India, SriLankan Airlines will extend a voucher worth US$ 50 that could be used by the customer for purchase of some of the finest collection of gems and jewellery from Zan Gems (P) Ltd, who have an expertise in the business of designing and manufacturing jewellery as well as exporting gems and jewellery, with showrooms in Sri Lanka, Japan, the Maldives and Malaysia.

This special offer is valid for passengers who utilise flights operated by or on behalf of SriLankan Airlines in sectors operating into Sri Lanka and business class tickets sold outside Sri Lanka. The scheme is also valid for customers who travel to Sri Lanka between September 1, 2003 and August 31, 2004, travellers who fly business class, Skyward members who not only travel using award tickets in Business Class but also members who use their miles to get upgrade to Business Class.

The gift voucher is valid between September 1, 2003 and December 31, 2004 for passengers who purchase a business class SriLankan Airlines ticket outside Sri Lanka. The voucher can be redeemed only in Sri Lanka in various Zan Gems showrooms like Colombo Hilton, The Lanka Oberoi (Colombo Plaza), TransAsia, Hotel Ceylon and Continental Hotel.

SriLankan Airlines has especially created this offer to add an extra special flavour and a valuable experience for their business travellers visiting different parts of Sri Lanka and South East Asia.

In Brief

BA Increases Frequencies To Kolkata

Air travellers in East India will benefit from more air services this winter when British Airways resumes its third weekly non-stop flight between Kolkata and London. The additional flight will operate from December 2.

Joe Homem, British Airways' sales manager East India said, "The decision to resume the third frequency was taken in order to meet growing customer demand in the region. The extra capacity equates to nearly 20 per cent. Every week, we will be offering 30 per cent more flat beds in our Club World business class cabin and nearly a quarter more seats in the World Traveller, economy cabin."

"Customers will also be able to choose the airline's premier economy cabin, World Traveller Plus, that offers a number of additional benefits including a dedicated smaller cabin, extra legroom, double hand baggage allowance and extra BA Miles."

Andy Stern, general manager, South Asia, British Airways said, "The air travel market between the two countries continues to grow rapidly. The resumption of our third weekly flight between Kolkata and London will enable us to better serve the East Indian market with improved frequency and latest technology available. In the long term, we remain committed to ensuring we can continue to meet customer demand throughout India. We look forward to being given the opportunity to invest further in our network throughout India in the future."

Lufthansa Launches Its New Business Class On Long-Haul Routes

In a bid to enhance customer satisfaction, Lufthansa recently launched its new business class on long-haul routes that boast a totally new travel experience. The longest bed in its class, a completely new seat concept as well as a unique programme of entertainment and information - with its new top product - Lufthansa will satisfy its customers' expectations of the highest quality, innovative developments and state-of-the- art technology. Wolfgang Mayrhuber, chairman of the executive board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, and Thierry Antinori, executive vice-president - marketing and sales of Lufthansa German Airlines, presented the new seat and the Media World, the in-flight entertainment, at Frankfurt Airport.

"With the new business class, we are opening up a new dimension for our customers. We offer maximum comfort more space, peace and quiet, a diverse information and

entertainment programme and excellent service on board. The new two-metre bed makes for more relaxed sleep in the business class. A special highlight is the built in massage function, ensuring a feeling of well being on board. We thus create an optimal situation for work, entertainment and relaxation, especially for our frequent flyers, thus creating the pre-conditions for travel free of stress," said Mayrhuber. "The aspects of safety, health and convenience for the customer were major criteria in the concept and, following thorough developments, are reflected in many details in the new business class. It will initially go into service around the world in the Airbus A340-600 and A330-300. The delivery of the aircraft to Lufthansa will begin at the end of November. The entire long haul fleet of around 300 million Euros.

Explains Thierry Antinori, "Our passengers already tested the functionality of the seat prototypes in the first stages of the project and during numerous flights. The result is a top class product, which sets international standards."

Jet Airways Offers More Seats On High Density Tourist Routes In Winter Schedule

Jet Airways will offer about 31,000 seats daily on its network by operating 255 flights to 40 destinations in its new winter schedule, which comes into force with immediate effect.

Other highlights of the schedules are a direct ART 72-500 flight daily between Delhi and Jodhpur, which will facilitate passengers to reach Jaisalmer the same day.

New generation Boeing 737 aircraft will also replace the ATR 72-500 aircraft on Mumbai-Vadodara-Mumbai, Mumbai-Udaipur-Jaipur-Delhi and Delhi-Jaipur-Udaipur-Mumbai sectors offering more seats to match the demand.

To meet the heavy traffic demand between Mumbai-Goa-Mumbai, Jet Airways will operate an additional daily flight by an ATR 72-500 aircraft from November 1, 2003 to January 15, 2004 in addition to its daily four Mumbai-Goa-Mumbai Boeing 737 flights.