Aviation

IFC to help Bhutan’s Drukair

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, will work with Bhutan’s state-owned airline, Drukair, to review the airline’s operations to increase efficiencies and provide better services to passengers at affordable cost.

The agreement with Drukair and its parent company, Druk Holding and Investments, marks IFC’s first infrastructure advisory project in Bhutan. IFC will evaluate the airline’s finances and operations and make recommendations that can help Drukair operate at its full potential, including exploring the possibility of attracting private investors.

Bhutan is a landlocked, mountainous country. The natural limitations of its international airport at Paro limit take-off and landing options to daylight hours and good weather conditions.

As a result, aircraft spend significant time on the ground. Not surprisingly, Drukair is the only airline that operates in Bhutan, despite bilateral agreements with neighboring countries like Nepal, Thailand and India.

“With IFC’s global expertise, we will be able to benchmark Drukair against international best practices,” said Karma Yonten, CEO of Druk Holding and Investments.

“We also hope to use IFC’s study and its recommendations to create the right environment for promoting international connectivity.”

Capacity reductions across Singapore Airlines network

The 11% reduction in capacity announced by Singapore Airlines yesterday for the period April 2009 - March 2010 will mean suspensions of flights on a range of routes, and use of smaller aircraft on others an airline release said.

A number of changes have already been announced and some effected, including the withdrawal of service to Amritsar (from Feb 09) and Vancouver (from Apr 09), lower frequency of flights to India, as well as a cutback on the non-stop flights between Singapore and the USA. On the Australia routes, the frequency of service to Sydney will reduce to three times daily till July.

To the UK, London’s three times daily service will be maintained. However, the daily B747-400 service will be replaced with a B777-300ER from end-March, resulting in a seat count reduction of 97 (-7.5%) a day.

Flights to Manchester will be at three times weekly from May, down from the present five-weekly. Service to Seoul will be reduced to twice-daily (from its already-reduced schedule of 17 times weekly).

One flight will continue on to San Francisco. To Japan, the Singapore-Bangkok-Tokyo service will reduce from six to five flights per week. Services to China will also change. Flights to Beijing will decrease from 21 to 17 weekly.

Guangzhou and Nanjing services will reduce to five and two per week respectively. In West Asia, aside from already announced changes affecting Indian gateways, Colombo and Male will each be served by five flights per week, down from seven.

Kuwait Airways offer discounted airfares to Europe

Kuwait Airways is offering special discounted airfares to Europe.

“This is part of our aggressive marketing strategies adopted to combine with the unique facilities offered to all passengers that have made Kuwait Airways most popular choice for Sri Lankans travelling to Europe,” said District Sales Manager Kuwait Airways Sudesh Rupasinghe.

He said that the airline is providing European immediate connections and minimum transit timing to London, Paris, Geneva and Rome and New York with a complimentary free stay at star class Safir International hotel located at Kuwait Airport courtesy of the airline. Latest innovative facilities include free lounge facility for economy class passengers travelling to any Europe and USA destinations at Palm Strip Lounge. “Kuwait Airways is the only carrier which provides this facility at present ex Colombo,” he said.

The Airline passengers can now enjoy breakfast with a mix of Sri Lankan and western food and unlimited beverages, telephone facility comfortable seating, TV and WI facilities,” he said.

Kuwait Airways Corporation was also selected for the Air Safety Award for its outstanding record of air safety based on Kuwait Airways consistency in meeting all the important international safety standards.

“Throughout its history, even during the turmoil of Gulf War, Kuwait’s safety standard were not questioned,” he said. Kuwait Airways Holidays is another section that is endeavouring to provide exclusive attractive offers for holiday travellers.

Kuwait Airways has a special section at Kuwait Airport for the benefit of Special Needs Passengers. This counter takes care of all their travel needs providing such passengers, the required ease to travel.

Cathay Pacific “Paints the town red”

When Cathay Pacific Sri Lanka invited travel agents to “Paint the Town Red” the demure corporate offices turned into scintillating scenes of Chinese New Year festivities in dazzling red.

The promotion helped to establish the close links the Hong Kong based airline had with China, Singapore and Bangkok where the Chinese New Year is celebrated in a grand scale while strengthening Cathay’s relationship with agents.

It was also one way in which the airline was able to acknowledge the contribution of the agents to Cathay Pacific’s success that now spans 15 years in Sri Lanka.

The exciting competition proved to be truly inspiring and the judges had a difficult task in choosing the winners because the d‚cor lavishly captured the ambience of the Chinese New Year that went hand in hand with the exciting package offered by Cathay in celebration of the grand festival. Pictures amply illustrate how the agents’ offices were decorated with even the staff dressing up for the occasion in Chinese attire.

The winning agency - Mackinnons American Express Travel (Pvt) Ltd - received free air-tickets to see for themselves how the Chinese New Year is celebrated. Delair Travels (Pvt) Ltd and Metro Travels & Tours (Pvt) Ltd were runners-up and 15 agents received fabulous merit awards.

Skywards recognized

Skywards the frequent flyer program of Emirates, has been declared one of the winners of Airline Business’ Loyalty Awards, announced at the publication’s loyalty event in Vienna last week.

Skywards won the “Loyalty Innovation Award 2009” for their Instant Upgrade reward - a last-minute upgrade option allowing Skywards Gold and Silver members to upgrade to a higher cabin class either at check-in or onboard the aircraft. Of 30 entries, Skywards was among three winners.

“We are honoured to have been selected for this award and we thank the judging panel for their consideration. We have received positive feedback from our members on these additional reward options and are very proud to offer them the ability to upgrade at check-in or onboard.

Skywards has always been committed to providing the best in rewards and exceptional benefits to our loyal customers,” said Senior Vice President, Skywards Brian Labelle.