American Airlines adds new Latin American routes, moves closer to LATAM

by Vinay Bhaskara

Yesterday, Dallas Fort Worth based American Airlines announced an expansion of its Latin American network, saying that it would launch services between its largest hub at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Bogota, Colombia, as well as a likely triangular routing between its largest Latin American gateway at Miami and the Brazilian cities of Porto Alegre and Curitiba. Both services are projected to begin in "late 2013."

The move marks American's latest round of long haul expansion in Dallas after it announced service from Dallas - Fort Worth to Lima, Peru and Seoul, South Korea earlier this year and recently took delivery of its first Boeing 777-300ER. Following its entrance into Ch.11 bankruptcy protection in late 2011, American had temporarily slowed down international growth. But that pattern appears to have shifted, and both of these additions make a lot of sense.

Dallas-Bogota allows American to connect with Oneworld partner LAN Colombia (via the newly signed code share agreement) and serve a growing local market, while the burgeoning economic and cultural ties between Miami and Brazil with robust leisure and business traffic alike will make the second route a winner (Porto Alegre is the one of the largest Brazilian cities without service to Miami).

Additionally, they launched two new code shares in the region; the aforementioned LAN Colombia deal and another agreement with Brazilian carrier TAM. "American's new partnerships with TAM and LAN Colombia further strengthen our longstanding relationship with LATAM Airlines Group, Latin America's largest and most premier airline group," said Virasb Vahidi, American's Chief Commercial Officer.

After LAN and TAM merged late last year to create Latin America's largest airline, it was rumored that the merged carrier would gravitate towards the Oneworld alliance (TAM was previously a member of Star Alliance), and the new code share agreement only firms that suspicion. The deal will expand American's already massive Brazilian footprint and give Oneworld customers more seamless connections throughout the Americas.

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Qantas has the best wine cellars in the sky

Photo by Flickr user Star5112.

Australian carrier Qantas is the big winner at Business Traveller’s 2011 Cellars in the Sky airline wine awards, winning in six categories. Other winners include Delta, Jetstar, LAN Chile, Qatar Airways, TAM, Emirates, Air France and Cathay Pacific.

The awards recognise the best business and first class wines served by airlines worldwide, with around 250 wines entered by a total of 32 carriers.

Wines were selected via blind tastings with five judges independently scoring them. The five judges were:

• Charles Metcalfe, TV wine presenter and co-chairman of the International Wine Challenge
• Tim Atkin, Master of Wine
• Sam Harrop, Master of Wine and winemaking consultant
• Peter McCombie, Master of Wine and accredited tutor for the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET)
• John Worontschak, leading winemaker and wine business development consultant

The detailed winners list is:

FIRST CLASS

First Class White
1. Emirates – Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay, 2006, Margaret River, Western Australia
2. Qantas – Tyrrell’s Winemaker’s Selection Vat 1 Semillon, 2005, Hunter Valley, Australia
3. Malaysia Airlines – Frédéric Magnien Meursault Coeur de Roches, 2009, Burgundy, France

First Class Red
1. TAM – Clos Canon, 2008, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux, France
2. British Airways – St Hallett Blackwell Shiraz, 2006, Barossa Valley, South Australia
3. (JOINT) All Nippon Airways – Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru, 2007, Labouré-Roi, Burgundy, France
AND British Airways – Château Smith Haut Lafitte, 2004, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France
AND Singapore Airlines – Louis Jadot Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru, 2007, Burgundy, France

First Class Sparkling
1. (JOINT) Air France – Champagne Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs, 2000, France
AND Qantas – Champagne Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs, 1999, France
2. Cathay Pacific – Champagne Deutz Amour de Deutz Brut, 2002, France
3. (JOINT) All Nippon Airways/Qatar Airways – Champagne Krug Grand Cuvée, NV, France
AND Emirates/Malaysia Airlines – Champagne Dom Pérignon, 2002, France

First Class Fortified and Sweet
1. Cathay Pacific – Ramos Pinto Quinta da Ervamoira Ten Year Old Tawny Port, Portugal
2. Qantas – Morris Old Premium Rare Liqueur Rutherglen Muscat, NV, Victoria, Australia
3. (JOINT) British Airways – Jackson Triggs Proprietors’ Reserve Vidal Icewine, 2007, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada
AND Emirates – Quinta do Noval Vintage Port, 2000, Portugal
AND Qatar Airways – Domaine Weinbach Clos des Capucins Furstentum Grand Cru Vendanges Tardives, 2008, Alsace, France

First Class Cellar
1. Qantas
2. Qatar Airways
3. Air France

Most Improved First Class Cellar
TAM

BUSINESS CLASS

Business Class White
1. (JOINT) Delta Air Lines – Wente Riva Ranch Chardonnay, 2010, Monterey, California
AND Jetstar – Waipara Hills Sauvignon Blanc, 2010, Marlborough, New Zealand
2. (JOINT) All Nippon Airways – Spy Valley Sauvignon Blanc, 2010, Marlborough, New Zealand
AND Qantas – Leo Buring Leopold Riesling, 2008, Tamar Valley, Tasmania, Australia
AND Qatar Airways – Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Spätlese, 2007, Mosel, Germany
3. (JOINT) Eva Airways – Maximin Grünhäuser Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett, 2008, Dr Carl Von Schubert, Ruwer, Germany
AND Malaysia Airlines – Stonier Chardonnay, 2009, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia

Business Class Red
1. Qantas – Mount Langi Ghiran Cliff Edge Shiraz, 2008, Victoria, Australia
2. (JOINT) All Nippon Airways – The Lucky Country Shiraz, 2010, McLaren Vale, South Australia
AND Emirates – Domaine des Sénéchaux Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 2008, Rhône, France
3. (JOINT) Eva Airways – Valduero Reserva, 2006, Ribera del Duero, Spain
AND Virgin Atlantic – Ottoventi Nero D’avola .20, 2009, Sicily, Italy

Business Class Sparkling
1. LAN Airlines – Champagne Louis Roederer Brut Premier, NV, France
2. Qantas – Champagne Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve, NV, France
3. Qatar Airways – Champagne Veuve Clicquot, La Grande Dame, 1998, France

Business Class Fortified and Sweet
1. Qatar Airways – Kopke Colheita Port, 1974, Portugal
2. Qantas – Seppeltsfield Para Grand Tawny, NV, South Australia
3. (JOINT) Emirates – Dow’s Ten Year Old Tawny, NV, Portugal
AND Korean Air – Inniskillin Icewine Vidal, 2007, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

Business Class Cellar
1. Qantas
2. Jetstar
3. Qatar Airways

Most Improved Business Class Cellar
Cathay Pacific

Photo courtesy Flickr user Star5112.

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ILFC's big bang order for Airbus A320neo, A321neo, and Boeing 737, a big boost for PW1100G GTF

For the last few years, thanks to the well known financial problems at its parent AIG, the world's largest aircraft lessor by value, International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC), was on the quiet.

Yesterday, ILFC announced its comeback with two big orders. One with Airbus S.A.S. for 75 A320neo and the first orders for the A321neo for 25 aircraft. From the 100 aircraft, 60 are firm commitments and 40 are on option. ILFC also signed a firm agreement with Boeing to purchase 33 737-800s worth about $2.6 billion at list prices, though discounts can range up to 50%.

In the NEO orders, ILFC also announced an eye-popping boost for the Pratt and Whitney Geared Turbo Fan (GTF) program, when it announced a confirmed agreement for 120 firm PurePower PW1100G engines to power the 60 confirmed NEO's and an option for up to 80 more engines for the 40 optioned A320neo family aircraft.

This is the first order for the NEO with a confirmed engine choice. Earlier orders from IndiGo, Virgin America, and TAM, were announced without an engine choice.

In addition to the PW1100G, customers have the choice of CFM's LeapP-X engine to power the A320neo family.

Also as expected and long overdue, ILFC announced it was cancelling its order for ten A380 superjumbos in an effort to rebalance it order books. Henri Courpron, ILFC Chief Executive Officer said

"With 104 wide bodies on order and fewer than a dozen single aisles it makes perfect sense to rebalance our order book and position ILFC strategically on the fuel-efficient neo,”

A321neo can replace the Boeing 757
The A321neo is expected to be an ideal replacement for the venerable but ageing, Boeing 757-200 used by many US carriers for trans-continental and trans-Atlantic flights.

Boeing does have the 737-900ER which has a similar seating capacity, but this aircraft has not appealed to airlines. Only about 75 737-900ERs operate compared to 613 A321-200s.

AirInsight has produced a great study on this option. The accompanying PDF report can be downloaded here.

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The best wine cellars in the sky

Very rarely do I get an opportunity to combine my two passions of aviation and wine and write about it.

A very special thanks to the In-flight Supervisor on a recent Singapore Airlines flight who went in to the first class cellar and served me a superlative Chateau Leoville Poyferre, St. Julien, Bordeaux. Even at 35,000ft, it was one the best airborne wine experiences I had.

Recently Business Traveller magazine, judged and presented its "Cellars in the Sky" awards to various airlines.

A special congratulations to the folks at Jet Airways at making the grade.

What did surprise me is that while many wines from producing powerhouses like France, Italy, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Portugal, and Chile, made the grade, the airlines from these respective countries did not. Also missing were producers and airlines from the United States.

Cellars in the Sky: Results for 2008

Business class

Business class sparkling

1. Charles Heidsieck (Mis en Bouteille 2008), Champagne, France. Joint winners: KLM, Singapore Airlines
2. Henriot Souverain NV, Champagne, France. Joint winners: Emirates, LAN
3. Charles Heidsieck (Mis en Bouteille 2007), Champagne, France. Joint winners: Asiana, British Airways, Qantas
4. Piper-Hiedsieck NV, Champagne, France. Korean Air
5. Dom Pérignon 2000, Champagne, France. Jet Airways

Business class white

1. Bernkasteler Doctor Riesling Kabinett 2005, Mosel, Germany. Qatar Airways
2. Coldstream Hills Chardonnay 2006, Yarra Valley, Australia. Qantas
3. Highfield Sauvignon Blanc 2007, Marlborough, New Zealand. Air New Zealand
4. Bernhard Ott Fass 4 Gruner Veltliner 2007, Wagram, Austria. Austrian Airlines
5. Anakena Ona 2007, Alto Cachapoal, Chile. LAN

Business class red

1. Palliser Estate Martinborough Pinot Noir 2005, Wellington, New Zealand. Cathay Pacific
2. Cline Cellars Cool Climate Syrah 2005, Sonoma Coast, California. British Airways
3. Luis Canas Reserva 2002, Rioja, Spain. Iberia
4. Corbières Gerard Bertrand 2006, Languedoc, France. Lufthansa
5. Casa Silva Los Lingues Gran Reserva Carmenère 2005, Colchagua, Chile. KLM

Business class fortified / dessert

1. Forrest Estate Botrytised Riesling 2007, Marlborough, New Zealand. Air New Zealand
2. Niepoort Late Bottled Vintage Port 2004, Douro, Portugal. Lufthansa
3. Baileys of Glenrowan Founder Series Liqueur Muscat NV, Glenrowan, Australia. Qantas
4. Taylor’s 20-year-old Tawny Port NV, Douro, Portugal. Qatar Airways
5. Jurancon Prestige Cave de Gran Jurancon NV, Jurancon, France. Delta

Best business class cellar

1. KLM
2. Qantas
3. Air New Zealand
4. LAN
5. Qatar Airways

First class

First class sparkling

1. Piper Heidsieck Cuvée Rare NV, Champagne, France. Lufthansa
2. Krug Grande Cuvée, Champagne, France. Joint winners: ANA, Jet Airways
3. Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 1998, Champagne, France. Joint winners: LAN, Asiana
4. Charles Heidsieck 1995, Champagne, France. Qantas
5. Salon Blanc de Blancs 1997, Champagne, France. JAL

First class white

1. Wente Riva Ranch Chardonnay 2005, Monterey, California. Lufthansa
2. Coldstream Hills Reserve Chardonnay 2006, Yarra Valley, Australia. Qantas
3. Spy Valley Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2006, Marlborough, New Zealand. American Airlines
4. Joint winners: Selbach-Oster Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett 2004, Mosel, Germany. TAM; Wegeler Bernkasteler Doctor Riesling Spatlese 2005, Mosel, Germany. American Airlines
5. Manz Riesling Auslese Trocken 2005, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany. Korean Air

First class red

1. Morton Estate Pinot Noir 2005, Marlborough, New Zealand. Qatar Airways
2. Shotfire Shiraz 2005, Barossa, Australia. Lufthansa
3. Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2005, Rhône. France, Air France
4. Mungo Park Shiraz 2008, Barossa, Australia. Emirates
5. Pyrenees Ridge Reserve Shiraz 2005, Victoria, Australia. ANA

First class fortified / dessert

1. Morris of Rutherglen Old Premium Liqueur Tokay Muscat, NV, Rutherglen, Australia. Qantas
2. Graham’s Late Bottled Vintage Port 2003, Douro, Portugal. Singapore Airlines
3. Weingut Neef-Emmich Bacchus Beerenauslese 2007, Rheinhessen, Germany. Lufthansa
4. Tio Pepe Fino Sherry, NV, Andalusia, Spain. Korean Air
5. Ramos Pinto Quinta da Ervamoira Porto Ten Anos NV, Porto, Portugal. Cathay Pacific

Best first class cellar

1. Lufthansa
2. Qantas
3. TAM
4. Emirates
5. Qatar

To locate these wines, I recommend wine-searcher.com.

I have written a book entitled Wines Demystified. Please download your free copy in Adobe Acrobat format here.

Read more about the programme including judging procedures here.

Image : Wikipedia

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