News from Travel Technology Update: Lufthansa will begin levying a credit card surcharge on tickets issued on or after Nov. 2 for flights departing from airports in Germany, Belgium, Finland, the U.K., the Netherlands and Switzerland.
AirAsia, AirAsia X and Malaysian Airline System announced they have entered into what is termed a Comprehensive Collaboration Framework, which includes a major share swap and a collaboration agreement to explore opportunities to cooperate on a broad range of areas.
Lufthansa will begin levying a credit card surcharge on tickets issued on or after Nov. 2 for flights departing from airports in Germany, Belgium, Finland, the U.K., the Netherlands and Switzerland. The "Optional Payment Charge" will apply to all channels. The charge per ticket will be €5 on domestic routes; €8 on intra-European routes, and €18 on long-haul routes. Negotiated corporate fares will be exempt until March 31.
AirAsia, AirAsia X and Malaysian Airline System have announced they have entered into what is termed a Comprehensive Collaboration Framework, which includes a major share swap and a collaboration agreement to explore opportunities to cooperate on a broad range of areas.
SunExpress, the Antalya-based joint venture between Lufthansa and Turkish Airlines, reported that first half 2011 revenue increased 44% year-over-year to €271million ($390 million).
Malaysia Airlines and arch rival AirAsia are reported to be planning a share swap that would give AirAsia's parent a 20% stake in Malaysia's national airline, according to Reuters.
Korean Air will operate its first long-haul Airbus A380 flight Tuesday from Seoul Incheon to New York JFK, and believes the aircraft can help it attract new business passengers.
American Airlines launched the "initial phase" of a Gogo-powered inflight streaming video product, Entertainment On Demand. The option will be available to passengers onboard its fleet of 15 Boeing 767-200s, allowing them to wirelessly stream more than 100 movies and TV shows from an inflight library to "select types" of Wi-Fi-enabled laptops. Movies and TV shows remain accessible for viewing on the passenger's own device after landing—for 24 hr. and 72 hr., respectively.
LOT Polish Airlines appointed Frank Joost regional sales director for the US, Canada and Latin America. Intersky, an Austrian regional airline, announced that owner Renate Moser will step in as CEO following the resignation of Claus Bernatzik. It said Rolf Seewald would manage flight operations. JetStream Ground Services named Richard Cordell COO and Blake Schultz Jr. VP-sales and marketing.
Qantas pulled its airline safety video featuring Ambassador-at-Large John Travolta as part of the ongoing industrial dispute with long-haul pilots, according to Australian and International Pilots Assn.
Emirates Airline President Tim Clark told ATW in Vienna that the performance of the carrier's Airbus A380s continues to improve, noting that its 15-aircraft fleet achieved 99% reliability performance last week.
Thomas Cook Group CEO Manny Fontenla-Novoa resigned Wednesday "with immediate effect," the company announced in a statement. Fontenla-Novoa's departure comes just weeks after the group issued a third profit warning for the current fiscal year and amid concerns about the tour operator's rising debt levels. Deputy CEO Sam Weihagen was appointed interim CEO.
Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority has completed its investigation of Tiger Airways Australia and issued a list of conditions to be met before allowing the low cost airline to resume operations ( ATW Daily News, July 28).
China Eastern Airlines formally launched China Eastern Yunnan Co., a joint venture airline set up with the Yunnan provincial government based on assets of CEA's previous branch company in Yunnan.
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