In Brief

Changi Bags Top Airport Award

Despite facing keen competition from newer airports, the 23 year-old Changi Airport has shown that it continues to charm the hearts of passengers worldwide. The readers of Business Traveller (Middle East) voted Changi as the Best Airport in the world. The award was presented to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) in Dubai.

Besides this award, Changi airport has also been voted the best airport in Asia in the AETRA survey, which is conducted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Airports Council International (ACI). Over 50,000 passengers from 35 major international airports in Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific participated in the survey.

CX Launches ’Best Chinese Food’ With The Peninsula Hong Kong

Cathay Pacific Airways (CX) recently launched a new season of its successful ’Best Chinese Food in the Air’ promotion, teaming up with The Peninsula Hong Kong to offer passengers a selection of dishes from its acclaimed Spring Moon Chinese restaurant. The special menu will be served in all classes on virtually all Cathay Pacific flights from Hong Kong until October 31, 2004.

The quality of the Spring Moon Chinese restaurant is enhanced by it elegant art-deco style decoration. Its famous tea counter with over 25 selected Chinese teas and professionally trained tea masters in attendance add to the dining experience.

More than 30 special Spring Moon dishes will be served on Cathay flights. Among them ’Prawns with Snow Fungus and Chrysanthemum in a Clear Broth’, was created exclusively for the airline by chef Ho Pui Yung, executive chef - Spring Moon of The Peninsula. Other dishes on the menu include Lamb Chops with Leeks in Gravy, Steamed Prawns with Egg White Sauce, Braised Beef Brisket with Broad Bean Sauce and Steamed Sliced Sea Bass with Preserved Vegetables.Embraer 170 Tours India For The First Time

Embrarer announced the first demonstration tour of its Embraer 170 in India. The airliner, to be shown to operators and the media, will remain in the country for two days as part of a broader tour of Asia. The Asian tour, kicked off after an airshow in Singapore, will have stops in 26 cities of 12 different countries. Embraer is demonstrating the plane to 41 airlines.

India’s civil aviation market is poised for significant development and expansion resulting from widespread industry reform and the population’s growing propensity for air travel. “The Embraer 170/190 jet aircraft family offers India’s airlines an excellent strategic proposition for route development. The size, cabin environment and high performance characteristics of the Embraer 170/190 is the ideal aircraft for development of India’s domestic and short-haul international network opportunities,” said Bruce Peddle, Embraer’s Director - civil aviation market in Asia-pacific.

Emirates Launch Daily Services To New York

Emirates is scheduled to launch its first passenger service to North America in the first week of June. The non-stop service to New York’s JFK airport will operate daily from Dubai, which is served by 43 non-stop flights per week from India. The airline is celebrating the launch of the service by offering first and business class passengers exclusive fly-and-stay packages.

Announcing the route launch, Abdulla Nasser Abdulla Hussain, Emirates’ vice-president for India and Nepal, said, “Emirates is an innovative airline that is continually re-defining the quality of world class travel. The launch of the New York route with the brand new Airbus 340-500, which is designed specifically for long-haul routes, enables our passengers to continually discover new destinations as we expand our global network. We are confident that the advantages of the A340-500, in terms of being the fastest flight to New York together with the various passenger-friendly amenities and grand introductory offer, will result in healthy revenues for the airline.”

An exclusive Emirates offer for first and business class passengers who fly Emirates between June 1 and August 31, 2004:

First class passengers - Spend three nights in a deluxe room at either the Ritz-Carlton in New York (Central Park or Battery Park), Philadelphia, Boston, South Beach or Washington DC including breakfast or seven days car rental.

Business class passengers - Spend two nights in a deluxe room at either the Ritz-Carlton in New York (Central Park or Battery Park), Philadelphia, Boston, south Beach including breakfast or Washington or four-days car rental.

Economy class passengers - Avail complimentary usage of the exclusive Marhaba Lounge at Dubai International Airport.

Transit passengers: First and Business Class Passengers - receive three hours complimentary use of the G Force Health Club facilities plus and a complimentary massage for 30 minutes, after which passengers can return to the Emirate’ First or Business Class lounges to dine, relax or catch up on work.

Qatar Airways Adjudged The World’s Third Five-Star Airline

Independent aviation quality monitor Skytrax has awarded Qatar Airways its highest accolade for airline service - a five-star ranking for premier status - ensuring the airline becomes the world’s third airline to achieve such privileged status. Qatar Airways’ chief executive officer Akbar Al Baker revealed that the airline has now joined Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines as a leader in airline quality.

“We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded a five-star ranking. It cements Qatar Airways’ position as a world leader of airline quality. The five-star ranking is the ‘ultimate’ approval of Qatar Airways’ strong commitment to deliver the best service in the sky. The star-ranking represents a quality rating for services provided by an airline, from its lounges, transfers to the aircraft and all aspects of the in-flight service and amenities for all classes of travel. We have been awarded five stars in a number of categories such as onboard catering, cabin staff service, staff attitude and friendliness, lounge facilities, transfers and also on the overall amenities and services relating to First Class,” disclosed Baker.

“In Skytrax’s recently announced popular survey for 2004 Airline of the Year, Qatar Airways featured as seventh best airline, up from 24th the year before. We were the highest-moving entrant in the 2004 top rankings. These results certainly prove that we are on the way to becoming the best airline in the world,” concluded Baker.