Latest Airlines News

"Delta Air Lines has joined the airfare war that has been building on trans-Pacific routes, offering return fares on its Sydney-Los Angeles service from A$777, excluding taxes.

Delta intends to launch service on the route in July, and will face stiff competition from Qantas, United and V Australia.

Passengers on Delta will be offered the option of flying beyond Los Angles for an additional A$200, to destinations including Atlanta, Boise, Cincinnati, Detroit, Indianapolis, Memphis, New Orleans, New York, Orlando, Salt Lake City and Seattle.

Until 9 April, Direct Flights is offering fares, with the new Delta service, from A$1105 return, inclusive of taxes, from Sydney to Los Angeles, Atlanta, New York, Detroit, New Orleans, Seattle, Cincinnati, Salt Lake City, Memphis, Orlando, Indianapolis and Boise.

The special launch fare for Business Class travel starts from $7785 per person.

These Direct Flights US special fares are valid on departures from 3 July 3 to 31 October 2009, making it possible for Australians to enjoy the American summer at low season prices.

V Australia recently defended its decision to provide service on the hotly-contested trans-Pacific route as a way of challenging the domination by Qantas and United for many years."

(Delta Airlines)

Royal Air Maroc, one of the most profitable airlines in North Africa, has plans to beef up its Boeing-dominated fleet to 50 jets, RAM chief executive Driss Benhima said.

It is benefiting from the government's policy to increase tourism to 10 million visitors by 2010 from 8 million in 2008. The government is also encouraging the expansion of air transport, including low-cost flights.

Morocco signed an Open Skies agreement with the European Union in 2006 allowing new airline competitors, including low-budget carriers such as Ryanair and easyJet.

"We will put an order for six planes. We will sign the order deal by the end of this month," Benhima told a business conference in the North African country's commercial capital Casablanca.

He gave no more details on the order, but said RAM is looking beyond this year's economic crisis to develop its business and survive the competition from European airlines."

(Airwise)

An additional four flights a week will be added to and from Paris – departing Hong Kong every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday – meaning the airline will provide a double-daily service to the French capital.

In another change effective from the summer schedule, Cathay Pacific will add two more flights each day to Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport, with early- and late-afternoon departures from Hong Kong, taking the airline’s total to three flights daily.

Cathay Pacific Director Corporate Development Ian Shiu said: “We are pleased to be able to strengthen our services to these three cities and I’m sure passengers will appreciate the additional choice and increased convenience when planning their journeys. Overall, Cathay Pacific’s capacity will grow at less than 1% this year – a significant reduction on our original plan as a result of the current financial crisis – but we will take whatever opportunities we can to strengthen those routes where demand and revenue potential remain high.”