Logistics agreement
Dubai’s low-cost carrier, flydubai, has signed a deal with Danzas AEI Emirates to co-ordinate its logistics requirements.
Danzas is a joint venture between Al Tayer Group and DHL, a subsidiary of Deutsche Post, the world’s largest logistics group. It has facilities in Dubai Cargo Village, Dubai Airport Free Zone, Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai Investment Park and Sharjah, and provides transport by ocean, road and air as well as warehousing and distribution services.
Etihad to use Lufthansa technology
Etihad Airways has announced an agreement with Lufthansa Systems to use the industry-leading flight planning solution Lido/Flight.
The contract with Lufthansa Systems, which also includes a number of Lido/Flight add-ons and benefits, will see the Abu Dhabi-based airline optimise its operations by significantly reducing its fuel costs and emissions, whilst also benefiting from more efficient flight planning processes.
Drawing on its own powerful database, Lido/Flight uses a number of parameters to calculate the optimal route for each flight, which can lead to cost savings of up to five per cent.
Flight of the Condor
German airline Condor has launched scheduled flights from Bahrain to Frankfurt.
The service operates three times weekly from Bahrain to Frankfurt, with two flights weekly on the return leg.
Condor’s services include free transport of baby carriages, cribs and child car seats for those travelling with infants.
Golf equipment up to 15kg per person also goes free and discount rates are available for other sports equipment including diving gear.
Condor has an extensive network of direct flights from Frankfurt to Cuba and numerous other Caribbean island destinations.
Cut price holiday deals
Budget carrier Air Arabia has unveiled a range of value-for-money package holidays to Goa, India, starting at just Dh1,270 ($345) per person.
The four-night getaways – available at a range of three, four and five-star hotels – include flights, transfers, accommodation, breakfast and tours.
Air Arabia provides roundtrip flights three times a week between Dabolim International Airport in Goa and its hub in Sharjah, UAE, as well as additional services over the holiday season. Current holiday packages to Goa are valid for travel until March 31.
Free Turkish delights
Turkish Airlines passengers with connecting flights in Istanbul are being offered a complimentary city tour if time between flights permits.
And passengers arriving in Istanbul on a Turkish Airlines international flight and continuing on to another destination outside of Turkey will be offered courtesy hotel accommodation.
The lay-over in Istanbul must be more than seven hours for business-class passengers and 10 hours for those travelling economy and the continuing flight must be the first scheduled connection.
New Italian routes in Etihad deal
Alitalia and Etihad Airways have exchanged an MoU confirming their intention to operate a codeshare agreement from the start of the northern summer season in April 2010, subject to government approvals.
The agreement will mean Etihad customers will be able to fly to two new Italian destinations, Rome and Naples. Alitalia customers will be able to fly directly from Italy to Abu Dhabi and will have greater and easier access to the airline’s expanding network of more than 55 destinations.
Etihad currently operates five direct services to Milan each week.
The airlines also intend to implement a reciprocal agreement to link their frequent flyer programmes.