AVIATION

Emirates to increase flights from Colombo

Emirates would increase capacity on its services to Colombo from June 30, 2013, with the addition of three more flights per week, the airline announced.

The addition of three more services, which would operate between Dubai and Colombo on Mondays, Thursdays and Sundays, would increase the number of flights between the two cities to four each day on those days, and take the total number of weekly Emirates flights serving Colombo to 31.

"The increase in capacity to Colombo demonstrates Emirates' continuing commitment to the destination," said Chandana de Silva, Emirates' Area Manager for Sri Lanka and Maldives. "The demand for seats on the Colombo - Dubai sector is increasing and these additional flights will enable more UK and USA bound passengers to connect with Emirates services out of Dubai. The additional capacity will support the Sri Lankan government's efforts to increase tourist arrivals towards the declared target of 2.5 million by 2016."

The new flights offer Emirates' passengers especially convenient connections to flights departing Dubai for New York, London, Manchester and the Middle East.

The three new flights would be operated with Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in two class configuration, adding 126 Business Class and 1,158 Economy Class seats each way per week on the route, as well as 23 tonnes of additional capacity for cargo per flight.

As with all Emirates flights, passengers on the new Colombo - Dubai services would enjoy the extra generous Emirates baggage allowance of 30kg in Economy Class and 40kg in Business Class.

The additional services also provide more opportunities for members of Skywards, the award-winning frequent flyer programme of Emirates Airline, to earn Skywards Miles on their travel.

Etihad Airways makes maiden flight to Amsterdam

The inaugural flight of Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has taken off for the Netherlands' capital, Amsterdam.

Flight EY77, carrying the KL code of Dutch national carrier, KLM, departed Abu Dhabi airport on schedule recently..

The launch of the service is another important development in the strategic partnership between Etihad Airways and KLM. First announced in October 2012, the partnership involves the two airlines codesharing on multiple routes across each other's networks.

The new daily service between Abu Dhabi and Amsterdam complements KLM's flights on that route, which carries Etihad Airways' EY code, ensuring the two airlines would offer a combined double daily service from the summer.

The Etihad Airways A330-200 aircraft, configured to carry 262 passengers, 22 in Pearl Business Class and 240 in Coral Economy Class, was greeted with a ceremonial water cannon salute by Dutch fire engines as it taxied to the gate at Schiphol.

Disembarking passengers were presented with wooden tulips as a gift from Schiphol Airport to mark the historic flight.

Amsterdam joins a group of 17 leading European cities that Etihad Airways flies to, including Brussels, Dublin, Frankfurt, Geneva, London and Paris.

Singapore Airlines conducts TCS workshop

Singapore Airlines conducted a TCS - 'Creating Extraordinary Moments' Workshop recently, at the Cinnamon Grand, Colombo. TCS is a synonym for Transforming Customer Service (TCS).

TCS coordinator for Colombo, Shihana Cader, conducted the workshop together with Stella Ang from Commercial Training and Development.

Harsimar Kaur, Asst Manager Commercial Training and Development evaluated the training programme.

The participation saw attendance from all aspects of SIA frontline and backroom operations.

The training session was a huge success. With programmes such as this, SIA hopes to continue providing its customers with the best service levels to upkeep its reputation as the "World's Most Awarded Airline".