UK designers give Cathay a facelift
Interior designer Ceri Rocca has helped to redesign the fleet interiors of Cathay Pacific.
The managing director of The Style House spent over a year working alongside a transport design consultancy Design Q creating a design concept for all first, business and economy class cabins across Cathay Pacific’s long haul fleet of 111 aircraft. Rocca and Design Q were approached by Cathay Pacific to deliver an overall design solution and refit that realised ‘Asian spa meets funky Saville Row’.The new designs will be gradually introduced on all new long and medium haul aircraft and also retrofitted on the airline’s long haul aircraft already in operation. The installation programme will be completed mid 2009.
Jet Airways begins daily flights to ME
Jet Airways of India launched daily direct flights to Muscat from Kochi and Kozhikode (Calicut) and Doha from Mumbai and Kozhikode on January 23, 2008. The airline will use its Boeing 737-800 aircraft on these sectors. With the induction of these new flights Kozhikode will be the second city in Kerala to be connected by Jet Airways’ international services to the Middle East. It also recently launched its daily direct flights to Kuwait and Bahrain from Kochi, ad daily direct flights between Bahrain and Mumbai, and between Delhi and Kuwait.
Lufthansa expands private jet fleet
Lufthansa Private Jet (LPJ) is expanding its premium service and investing in its own private jets to augment the existing Lufthansa Private Jet service. The new aircraft will be purchased next year and fitted with exclusive interiors. Lufthansa’s own jets are expected to go into service in the second half of 2008. By building up its own Private Jet fleet, Lufthansa will be in a better position to tailor the product to customer requirements and also offer a more flexible service.
Dreamliners on course to Gulf Air
Bahrain based Gulf Air, the national carrier of the kingdom, has signed a $4 billion firm order with Boeing for the delivery of 16 Dreamliner aircraft, an airline spokesman said. The agreement also involves options for eight more Dreamliners. Adnan Malik, acting head of corporate communication at Gulf Air, said the delivery of the Dreamliners will begin in 2016. The value of the firm order for the new long-haul jets at list price is around $4 billion and the total would go up to $6 billion if options are taken, he added. Gulf Air had earlier announced plans to renew its entire fleet of 30 planes.