AirAsia X to commence flights to Nagoya

By BA Staff

AirAsia X Berhad, the long haul affiliate of the AirAsia Group, announced the launch of its third destination in Japan; Nagoya.

AirAsia X will commence its first flight into Chubu Centrair International Airport from Kuala Lumpur beginning 17 March, 2014.

AirAsia X will commence four weekly flights into Nagoya, Japan. The airline currently operates daily flights to Tokyo (Haneda) and four weekly flights to Osaka (Kansai) from Kuala Lumpur.

Azran Osman-Rani, CEO of AirAsia X said:

"We are excited to announce our latest route to Nagoya, marking our 3rd destination into Japan. This marks another milestone for AirAsia X and reiterates our expansion commitment in the key markets we operate in with the Asia Pacific Region. With the addition of Nagoya, guests will have more travel options to explore Japan, and we believe Nagoya being a scenic and historical destination will be a popular tourist destination. We have carried over half a million passengers to and from Japan. Japan contributed over 14% of our total revenue in the first half of 2013. Nagoya is strategically located just 50 minutes from Osaka and 1 hour 40 minutes from Tokyo via train. Guests may soon fly direct to Nagoya, and take a train to the metropolitan and capital city of Japan; Tokyo or visit the commercial centre of Japan, Osaka in the Kansai region and return from any of the ports we serve in Japan. Nagoya has much to offer, be it for families or even the back packers, the choices of attractions are endless.”

 He concluded:

“Japanese guest also will be able to fly to a host of destinations from Kuala Lumpur using AirAsia’s Fly-Thru service, which allows guests to easily connect between two different flights via the Kuala Lumpur Low Cost Carrier Terminal without having to worry about checking in twice.”

Fly-Thru routes available from Nagoya are: Adelaide, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney in Australia; Kochi in India; Bali, Bandung, Jakarta, Medan and Surabaya in Indonesia; Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Langkawi andPenang in Malaysia; Singapore; Taipei in Taiwan; Bangkok and Phuket in Thailand; and Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam.

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Japan Airlines to introduce new menus and services on Japan Honolulu flights

by Devesh Agarwal

BEDD for Resort salmon with ginger-fried pork

Japan Airlines (JAL) will offer new restaurant inspired in-flight meal services on its new service from Japan to Honolulu, Hawaii, USA which starts this autumn.

In business class JAL will introduce "BEDD for Resort", a special menu crafted by Star chef Chikara Yamada.

The Japanese menu is seasonal autumn salmon with ginger-fried pork and the western menu is steak of Japanese beef fillet with special sauce périgueux.

JAL will provide menu of "Ore-no Kinaishoku for Resort" on Honolulu routes in collaboration with Ore-no French and Ore-no Italian which are popular restaurants in Japan.

Japanese beef fillet with special sauce périgueux by Chef Chikara Yamada

In economy class, the airline is working with Kazuhide Nose, Chef of Ore-no French and Toshihiro Yamaura, Chef of Ore-no Italian for a new in-flight meal service, "Ore-no Kinaishoku for Resort". The main dish is Ore-no Beef Stroganoff, designed by Chef Nose with side dishes and dessert are Ore-no Zensai, Ore-no Salad with truffle oil dressing as well as Ore-no Sweets - Tiramisu, by Chef Yamaura, will be served between September and November 2013.

Economy class meal. Ore-no Kinaishoku for Resort beef Stroganoff

Between December and February 2013, the airline will switch, offering an Italian main dish designed by Chef Yamaura, and French side dishes and dessert designed by Chef Nose

The new menus will be served in both classes on flight to Honolulu from Tokyo (Narita), Nagoya (Chubu) and Osaka (Kansai), starting from September 1, 2013.

Kua 'Aina Hawaiian Hamburger Sandwich

On the Tokyo Haneda to Honolulu, Hawaii service JAL is offering a new breakfast menu in collaboration with KUA ‘AINA, a famous restaurant chain in Hawaii and Japan, which as been serving its famous burgers and succulent char-grilled sandwiches since 1975.

The airline is also re-timing its meal service, from after take-off to before landing for the flight departing from Tokyo (Haneda) at 23:40 from October 1, 2013, to ensure passengers have adequate time for rest.

For ladies, from October 1 onwards, the airline is providing a "womens' only" area comprising of four seats in the rear of the economy class which will be set up for make-up and nursing babies.

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Japan Airlines and Jetstar Japan start codeshare and mileage tie-up

by Devesh Agarwal

Japan Airlines (JAL) will start code-share and mileage program partnership with Jetstar Japan (airline flight code: GK) - a joint-investment with the Qantas Group, Mitsubishi Corporation and Century Tokyo Leasing Corporation.

JAL, which started code-sharing with Jetstar (the Australian LCC) in 2007, on routes between Japan and Australia, will now be codesharing with Jetstar Japan on all its domestic flights for customers connecting to and from JAL's international services at Tokyo (Narita) and Osaka (Kansai) and Nagoya (Chube). JAL will not be selling segments on flights operated by Jetstar Japan that are without connections to JAL's international services.

Customers will be able to create a single itinerary with international and domestic flights with the "JL" code, operated respectively by JAL and Jetstar Japan. This provides a network with a wider choice of flights and timings, as well as faster transfers for customers.

Reservations, sales and JAL mileage redemption of flights operated by Jetstar Japan will begin from February 27, 2013, for flights commencing from March 6, 2013.

JAL Mileage Bank (JMB) members can utilise their accrued mileage to redeem tickets on Jetstar Japan flights. Jetstar Japan will be the 17th airline that JAL has similar arrangements. Other airlines with which JAL has mileage tie-ups are all the oneworld alliance members and their subsidiaries, Air Berlin, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Dragonair, Finnair, Iberia, LAN, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas Airways, Royal Jordanian, S7, and Air France, Emirates, China Eastern, Hokkaido Air Commuter, Bangkok Airways beyond the alliance.

For more details on eligible Jetstar Japan routes and required mileage for redemption, visit the dedicated page on JAL's website.

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Singapore Airlines to induct Airbus A330-300

Airbus A330-343E, F-WWKZ, CN 978, pictured here in the cold grey skies of Toulouse, France, will soon be heading to the lush tropical city-state of Singapore, as 9V-STA, and joining the fleet of Singapore Airlines, who will become the newest operator of the Airbus A330 aircraft.

Singapore Airlines will introduce its new Airbus A330-300, powered by Rolls Royce Trent 700 engines, in a mid-range regional aircraft, positioning, replacing the existing Boeing B777's, on routes to Australian and Japanese cities, progressively from end March 2009.

SQ A330 Seat Map
The aircraft will be configured with 285 seats in a two class configuration. 30 Raffles Class (Business Class) in a 2-2-2 abreast layout, and 255 in a 2-4-2 layout. The new cabin features will be revealed in January, but the aircraft does feature a new Business Class seat, specially designed for regional and medium-haul flights. All seats will feature the new KrisWorld, Singapore Airlines award-winning in-flight entertainment system.

The first of 19 new A330-300s will be delivered to Singapore Airlines by Airbus in mid-January. Initially, the aircraft will be used to complete pilot conversion, and thereafter, operate some short sectors between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore and Jakarta, during late February and March, to fine tune the crews and operations, but these cities will not continue with the A330's.

Singapore Airlines will use the A330's initially to select Australian cities (Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide) and then add Japan (Nagoya and Osaka).

Singapore Airlines will induct the A330's into commercial service on March 30, 2009, with an inaugural service to Brisbane, which marks the 25th anniversary of the commencement of Singapore Airlines services between Singapore and Brisbane.

The planned deployment of the A330-300 is:

End March 2009
Brisbane, SQ245/246, SQ235/236, daily
Brisbane, SQ255/256, 5 flights per week

April 2009
Perth, SQ224/225, 5 fights per week

May 2009
Perth, SQ223/226, SQ215/216, daily

June 2009
Adelaide, SQ268/269, daily
Nagoya, SQ671/672, daily

Then a long break till March 2010
Osaka, SQ617/618, daily

For more information visit the Singapore Airlines website.

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