Airline News - Asia / Pacific.

Oct 2, 2006

IATA DG and CEO Giovanni Bisignani called on China to look urgently at the cost of overflying the country, which at the current rate of $1 per mile is "not acceptable." He also urged Beijing to look at the cost of operating into China's airports, which aside from Japan are the world's most expensive. Sep 27, 2006

Four airlines submit DOT briefs for China service. The Department of Transportation today will receive briefs from four U.S. carriers competing for routes to China. The DOT is responsible for selecting a route that best serves the public interest. American Airlines, Northwest Airlines, United Airlines and Continental Airlines have proposed routes to serve China. Sep 25, 2006

Air New Zealand 

Air New Zealand launched Air New Zealand Consulting to offer advice and support to other airlines. The unit will operate as a subsidiary of ANZ. Sep 28, 2006

Cathay Pacific Airways

Cathay Pacific Airways plans to launch daily Hong Kong-Shanghai Pudong service from Dec. 1 pending government approval. It would mark the return of Shanghai to Cathay's passenger network after a 16-year hiatus. The carrier currently operates 12 weekly freighter flights on the route. Sep 26, 2006

Cathay Pacific Airways

Cathay Pacific Airways used the occasion of its 60th anniversary celebration in Hong Kong Friday to unveil a radical upgrade of its first, business and economy class products. New economy seats, set in a slight recline position that cannot be moved, aim to establish a new standard for the industry. By pushing a button, passengers can move the seat cushion forward and the seatback cushion down, producing greater recline than conventional seats. Passengers get more legroom because magazine holders have been moved from seatbacks to the front of the seat beneath travelers' knees. Cathay has retained its 32/33-in. seat pitch in economy. It also has added larger video screens for economy passengers and seats now feature shoulder belts for use during takeoff and landing. In business class, Cathay has attempted to improve on Virgin Atlantic's herringbone lie-flat bed concept by installing "softer" beds and 15-in. video screens for each seat. It said its upgraded first class cabins will feature the largest bed in airline service. Rollout of the new cabin features will start early next year. Sep 25, 2006

China Southern

China Southern Airlines launched daily flights from Beijing to Shanghai Hongqiao and Chengdu aboard 777s and to Hangzhou aboard A330s. Sep 25, 2006

Japan Air Lines, Korean Air

JAL and Korean Air are expanding their codeshare agreement from Oct. 29 by 40% from the current 133 flights per week over nine routes to 186 flights a week over 11 routes. Under the new agreement, the number of daily codeshare flights from Seoul Incheon to Tokyo Narita increases to seven, to Osaka Kansai to five and to Nagoya Chubu to three. Sep 27, 2006

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Editor: Aram Gesar, eMail: [e-mail]

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Sep 25, 2006