Business Travel Tips

Virgin Atlantic announced it will stop the daily service from London Heathrow to Chicago for the winter.

The airline stated it will also suspend one of two daily London Heathrow-Hong Kong services, and is planning cut frequencies elsewhere.

Virgin Atlantic’s Chief Executive Officer Steve Ridgway explains: “The outlook for the industry is as bleak as ever and all airlines are having to shrink their businesses. The fittest will survive and be in a stronger position when the economy grows.” (source)

Beginning July 13 Delta Air Lines will start in-flight Wi-Fi test on its 767-300.

Delta aircraft that have already installed in-flight Wi-Fi include: MD88, B757-200 (on 49 aircraft), MD90 (on 16 aircraft), and B737-800 (only on 1 aircraft).

Delta is also planning to install Wi-Fi on the pre-merger Northwest aircraft soon.

The international passenger traffic is down by 9.3% year-on-year in May according to the scheduled traffic statistics compiled by IATA.

The report also shows that the international freight demand was down by 17.4% with international passenger load factors stood at 71.2%, down from 74.5% recorded in May 2008.

However a relative improvement respect to the data recorded in April 2009 could indicate that a floor may now have been reached. Also May was the first full month to feel the impact of the A H1N1 flu on travel.

- International Passenger traffic by region

Asia Pacific carriers
Demand is down by 14.3%, with capacity adjustments of -9.3%.

North American carriers
10.9% fall in passenger demand (it was a 4.2% fall in April). This was the result of weak demand to Latin American destinations affected by A(H1N1) flu.

European carriers
The network carriers reported a 9.4% fall in demand, however European low cost carriers recorded a traffic grew by 2.1%.

African carriers
6% fall in demand in May (it was 7.1% in April).

Middle Eastern carriers
9.5% growth in demand with a 14.5% expansion of capacity.

Beginning Autumn 2009, British Airways will offer a new afternoon tea service in the new First Class cabin.

In order to provide the new service, “Afternoon Tea by The Dorchester“, BA teamed up with The Dorchester, one of London’s most luxurious hotels.

“Afternoon Tea by The Dorchester” service will offer BA First Class customers a large selection of finely cut sandwiches and cakes, served with a variety of teas from around the world.

It will be available on flights to the United States.

Continental Airlines is offering discount flights to India.

To take advantage of the offer, book at continental.com, by June 30.

Here’s a sampling of Continental’s fares to India (fares are round-trip, do not include taxes and fees; specific travel dates apply). 

Chicago, IL (ORD - O’Hare) — Mumbai (Bombay), India (BOM) : $859
New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty) — Delhi, India (DEL) : $918
New York/Newark, NJ (EWR - Liberty) — Mumbai (Bombay), India (BOM) : $918
Atlanta, GA (ATL) — Mumbai (Bombay), India (BOM) : $947
Cleveland, OH (CLE) — Mumbai (Bombay), India (BOM) : $980
Boston, MA (BOS) — Mumbai (Bombay), India (BOM) : $1010
Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW) — Mumbai (Bombay), India (BOM) : $1013
Boston, MA (BOS) — Delhi, India (DEL) : $1050
Houston, TX (IAH – Intercontinental) — Mumbai (Bombay), India (BOM) : $1060
Charlotte, NC (CLT) — Mumbai (Bombay), India (BOM) : $1064
Atlanta, GA (ATL) — Delhi, India (DEL) : $1082
New Orleans, LA (MSY) — Delhi, India (DEL) : $1092
Cleveland, OH (CLE) — Delhi, India (DEL) : $1100
Houston, TX (IAH – Intercontinental) — Delhi, India (DEL) : $1100

Find out offer details at continental.com.