Author: admin

  • Focus: FORMIA & Air Astana take Medium Haul Luxury to New Heights

    FORMIA today announces an extension to its existing commercial relationship with Air Astana. Since 2011, FORMIA have been supplying the airline with quite a number its quality in-flight amenity kits for the relaxation and convenience of passengers on long haul flights. Now, as portion of the airline’s commitment to take the extent of on-board passenger comfort to new heights, FORMIA should be supplying new amenity kits to Air Astana medium haul business class passengers besides.

    FORMIA will supply the airline with its specially developed unisex kit containing products from the well-known global luxury brand, Chopard.
    Commenting, Roland Grohmann, Managing Director of FORMIA, said: “We are delighted to have won this crucial contract and to be extending our relationship with Air Astana on this way. Air Astana enjoys a longtime reputation for the standard of its customer care. This move significantly improves the criteria of in-flight service which medium haul passengers will come to expect around the industry and FORMIA is proud to be playing a component during this process.”

    Sandra Cullen is Director In-Flight Service Delivery of Air Astana JSC. She said “At Air Astana we pay loads of attention to our on board service delivery. We recognise that service improvement is a non-stop continuous process. Therefore, following on from the successful introduction of our business travel amenity kits for long haul flights in 2011 that won Gold and Silver Awards last year, we decided to expand our fruitful cooperation with FORMIA. We can be launching a brand new amenity kit for our business class customers on medium haul flights, affirming our commitment of being an exceedingly customer oriented international airline. i’m hoping our passengers will enjoy this new Chopard amenity kit.”

  • Accor plans three new hotels in Myanmar

    Accor is developing three newly built hotels in Myanmar – an MGallery hotel in Naypyidaw, Novotel Yangon Max, and Novotel Mandalay Mingalar – representing the group’s 18th market within the region.

    “We are excited to announce the signing of 3 new hotels in Myanmar – the 1st of with a view to open this year – marking Accor’s return to Myanmar,” says Michael Issenberg, Chairman and Chief Operating Officer for Accor Asia-Pacific.

    “Southeast Asia has long been a spotlight marketplace for Accor, and because the country’s tourism industry develops, we see significant growth potential for international hotel operators with long-term experience within the region. These three developments represent one more step towards our goal of operating 700 hotels in Asia-Pacific by 2015.”

    “With Myanmar expecting a powerful increase in international arrivals this year, we glance forward to being part of the improvement of the country’s tourism infrastructure,” says Robert Murray, Chief Operating Officer, Accor South East and North East Asia. “We expect business and leisure travellers alike will feel welcome at our iconic MGallery and Novotel branded hotels. True to our motto ‘Open New Frontiers in Hospitality’, our intention is to steer the manner and accelerate the company’s expansion into this dynamic market.”

    The upscale MGallery hotel within the heart of Naypyidaw, Myanmar’s capital city, often is the city’s first international brand hotel.  The valuables will welcome guests with 168 rooms, 1 meeting hall, 4 meeting rooms, a cigar bar and two dining outlets, including an Italian restaurant. The newly-built property, expected to open this year, may be located an insignificant 15 minutes’ drive from the town Hall, Water Park and Gem Museum, and 20 minutes from Naypyidaw International Airport.

    In Yangon, the country’s former capital and crucial economic centre for trade and tourism, Novotel Yangon Max would be completed by the top of 2013. This newly built 366-room hotel will provide international-standard quality and services that promise true relaxation and luxury, with 3 restaurants – including a rooftop French restaurant – a bar, a 1,000 square meter banquet room, 8 meeting rooms, a swimming pool and wellness centre. The hotel is within walking distance of Shwedagon Pagoda, Bogyoke Aung San Market, Inya Lake, Junction Square Shopping Centre, and a 20-minute drive from Yangon International Airport.

    Novotel Mandalay Mingalar, a newly-built hotel scheduled to open in in 2015, could have 280 rooms, 2 restaurants, 2 bars, a ballroom, 4 meeting rooms, a swimming pool, and wellness centre. Situated in a major location, the hotel is near the Maha Muni Pagoda, Mandalay Palace, Shwenandaw Monastery, Mandalay Hill, and a 40-minute drive from Mandalay International Airport. Mandalay is found 716 km north of Yangon at the east bank of the Irrawaddy River and is the second one-largest city in Myanmar.

  • News: Dreamliner back within the air within ‘weeks’

    Boeing has a comprehensive set of improvements in order to add several layers of extra security measures to the lithium-ion batteries on 787 commercial jetliners are in production and will be ready for initial installation in the following couple of weeks.

    New enclosures for 787 batteries are also being built and could be installed in airplanes within the weeks ahead.

    These improvements, which continue to undergo extensive certification testing, will allow operators to renew commercial flights with their 787s once testing is complete and america Federal Aviation Administration and other international regulators grant their final approval.

    The improvements include enhanced production and operating processes, improved battery design features and a brand new battery enclosure. 

    “As soon as our testing is complete and we obtain regulatory approvals, we can be positioned to assist our customers implement these changes and start the method of having their 787s back within the air,” said Boeing Commercial Airplanes president Ray Conner.

    “Passengers could be assured that we’ve got completed a radical review of the battery system and made numerous improvements that we believe will make it a safer, more reliable battery system.”

    Battery system changes include changes to the battery itself, the battery charging unit and the battery installation.

    Earlier this week the FAA approved Boeing’s certification plan, which lays out the discrete testing to be done to illustrate that the battery improvements address the conditions specified in the Airworthiness Directive that has suspended 787 commercial operations.

    “We are following all the necessary protocols to get our new design fully approved and correctly installed in order that we are able to help our customers start flying once possible.

    “We are simultaneously moving out on an effort to renew deliveries but completing our certification work and
    getting the delivered fleet flying again is our first priority,” said Conner.

    “Our customers and their passengers was incredibly patient as we’ve got worked through this process and we thank them very sincerely for his or her continued support and confidence within the 787.

    “The more-electric architecture of the 787 brings real value not only to the airlines but to our industry.

    “By reducing fuel use, we’re reducing our environmental footprint.

    “This battery technology is a vital section of the more-electric architecture, that is helping us to chop fuel use by greater than ten billion gallons of fuel over the lifetime of this program.”

  • Three killed in Boston Marathon explosions

    Officials within the Usa have launched an investigation following two explosions near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

    FBI investigators launched a “potential terrorist inquiry” as three people were left dead with upward of 100 more injured.

    At least 17 individuals are critically wounded with injuries including several amputations.

    In a televised address following the incident, president Barack Obama vowed to bring those behind the attack to justice.

    “We will discover who did this.

    “We will discover why they did this,” he said.

    “Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups, will feel the total weight of justice.”

    The first explosion came at about 14:50 local time at the north side of Boylston Street.

    Seconds later another explosion struck the crows approximately 100 metres further back along the course.

    British prime minister David Cameron offered his condolences: “The scenes from Boston are shocking and horrific – my thoughts are with all those that has been affected.”

    London Marathon

    Meanwhile officials within the UK said security round the London Marathon can be reviewed after the incident in Boston.

    However, the development will go ahead, after sports minister Hugh Robertson said he was “absolutely confident” it usually is kept safe.

    London had “enormous experience” of delivering major events and the united kingdom had the superior security professionals on this planet, he told the BBC.

    He also said he was “horrified” by the Boston blasts.

    Recommended

  • News: Carnival Dream stranded in Caribbean

    Passengers at the Carnival Dream was stranded within the Caribbean after the ship developed equipment problems.

    The incident comes only a month after passengers were stranded for four days inside the Gulf of Mexico on board the Carnival Triumph in what some described as toxic conditions.

    Several passengers aboard the Carnival Dream, that’s currently docked in Philipsburg, St Maarten within the Caribbean talked of human waste all around the floor in some bathrooms, in addition to power outages.

    According to a press release from the cruise line, Carnival Dream developed a technical issue with the ship’s backup emergency diesel generator.

    “At no time did the ship lose power and the ship’s propulsion systems and first power source was not impacted. 

    “There were periodic interruptions to elevators and restroom services for a number of hours last night,” added the statement.

    Carnival is making arrangements to fly all guests home via private charter flights and scheduled flights from St. Maarten. 

    The cruise line confirmed it is going to cancel the ship’s next voyage that’s scheduled to leave on Saturday, March 16th.

    Guests scheduled to sail in this cruise will receive an entire refund and 25 per cent off a future seven-day cruise. 

    Guests who re-book can have their current rate protected at the future sailing.