ABU DHABI: Etihad Airways has been voted ‘Airline of the Year’ at the 2008 Arabian Business Achievement Awards, the latest in a series of accolades that the national airline of the UAE has collected in recent months. The Abu Dhabi-based airline picked up the award at a ceremony at the Atlantis Hotel in Dubai, hosted by ITP, the publishers of Arabian Business magazine, and attended by many of the region’s major senior business professionals. “Amid the toughest of competition and despite an increasingly tough economic backdrop, we have remained steadfast in our focus upon the customer, which makes the winning of such a prestigious award so pleasing,” James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, said.
Boeing 777-300 joins Qatar Airways fleet
DOHA: As 2008 draws to a close, Qatar Airways has welcomed the arrival of the fifth Boeing 777-300ER to join its rapidly growing fleet in a move to increase the airline’s capacity to Southeast Asia. The new aircraft touched down at Doha International Airport yesterday, following its long flight from Seattle. The airline is undergoing an aggressive expansion strategy over the next two years with outstanding orders for more than 200 aircraft worth around $40 billion. The latest Boeing aircraft to join the fleet will be deployed on flights between Doha and Manila from January. The airline currently operates 11 flights a week to the Philippine capital. The 335-seat Boeing 777-300 Extended Range passenger aircraft features 42 seats in business class. Economy class has 293 seats.
SriLankan changes flight schedule
JEDDAH: SriLankan Airlines’ flight schedule is undergoing several temporary changes, as the airline introduces new aircraft and retires four older ones in its narrow-body fleet. Two new Airbus A320 aircraft have already been acquired, the first of which arrived recently, with the second due within this month. Two more are being actively sourced, and until they arrive the airline is temporarily suspending services to four of its destinations — Kozhikode, Kochi, Coimbatore and Hyderabad from Jan. 15 until the end of winter. The airline will continue to serve all of the other destinations in its route network.
Amadeus launches new self-booking tool
RIYADH: Amadeus, a provider of technology to the travel and tourism industry, has launched a new version of its self-booking tool for corporations which includes a feature enabling users with mobility impairments to request special assistance at airports at the time of booking their trip. Visually impaired travelers or those with reduced mobility will be able to easily request assistance, such as a wheelchair or a guide in advance of travel, for every necessary stage of their flight. Additionally, the latest release of Amadeus e-Travel Management version offers business travelers more choice of hotel and airfares.