TOURIST LIFE TRAVEL & TOUR

Egypt Air has launched daily flights to Addis Ababa from Cairo as of the 31st of October. Flights from Cairo to the Ethiopian capital used to be only five days a week.

Egypt Air has cultivated loyal clients and strong partners in Ethiopia said Maged Michel Addis Ababa Office Manager for Egypt Air. The launch of the daily flight is a significant occasion for the airlines he added.
Egypt Air resumed flights to Addis Ababa, which had halted when the Derg was in place, in 1995 said Michel speaking at the official launch ceremony held at the Sheraton Addis. The number of flights per week has gradually grown over the years he explained.

The Egyptian people have experienced major changes this year which has been reflected in relations with Ethiopia he noted.
An increased amount of travel between the two countries will play a positive role in enhancing the relationship between the two countries said Mohammed Edress Egyptian Ambassador to Ethiopia.

Effective, efficient and active transportation is important to enhance and strengthen relationships between Ethiopia and Egypt according to Ambassador Edress. The increased transport connection in addition to the high level political visits between the leaders of the two countries reflect a new phase which reflects multi-track approaches and increased cooperation in different sectors he said.

Source: Ethiopia Press Agency

 by: Sean O’Neill,

 Delta will offer long-haul flights with Economy Comfort seats, which will have an additional four inches of legroom, some free booze, priority boarding, free HBO programming on the seatback TVs, and about 50 percent greater angle recline in your seat, says the airline’s blog.

The seats will be on 108 planes covering most “long-haul intercontinental routes between the U.S. and Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, the Middle East, and South America (Lima, Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Buenos Aires, and Santiago)” says the airline.

You can’t buy the Economy Comfort seats directly. But starting today, you may book an economy-class ticket, and then if one of these seats are available on your flight, you can upgrade to it. Prices vary, but The Points Guy (who broke the story, after Delta’s blog) has reports of the cost being about $80 one-way on an East Coast to Europe route. The Economist’s Gulliver blog sees upgrade costs as high as $160 one-way. In any event, Delta offers the seats for free to selected members of their frequent flier program, such as those with Diamond and Platinum Medallion status, notes Jaunted.

In short, great news for tall travelers with extra money to spend. Full details on Economy Comfort on Delta’s site.

Delta joins a string of airlines with a medium upgrade option, such as to United/Continental’s Economy Plus. Southwest is now the only airline not to offer a comparable service.

Reaction so far has been mixed. Gulliver, for instance, has mocked the name: “If you name your premium-economy seating “Economy Comfort,” what not-very-subliminal message are you giving about the joys of your regular economy seating?” It’s also criticized some of the details. “Early boarding is not much of a lure on an international flight with allocated seats.”

In some cities, such as San Francisco, a gallon of gas is hovering around $4. Nationally, the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline reached $3.51 last week, up 13 percent in a month.

“It’s not like other commodities such as milk, bread or eggs,” said AAA spokesperson Troy Green. “As you drive around, you see those gas prices large and in your face at intersections every day.”

Airlines are facing fuel challenges again as well. United Continental Holdings, the world’s largest airline, on Tuesday said rising fuel costs will force it to drop some unprofitable routes and nix plans to add new ones.

That comes on top of a succession of industry wide increases in airplane ticket prices. “A traveler who paid $240 for a round-trip on the first day of the year is now paying closer to $300 — a 25 percent increase,” said Rick Seaney of FareCompare.com.

Seaney has already counted six successful domestic 2011 airfare hikes. “That is a carbon copy of 2008 to date, where we ended up with 15 hikes for the year as oil hit stratospheric highs in the summer of $145 a barrel and just as quickly crashed to $32 a barrel at Christmas.”

Rolling revisions
AAA hasn’t yet surveyed drivers about Memorial Day driving plans, but travelers respond to rising gas prices in somewhat predictable ways. “The rise in fuel costs may cause some people to alter or cancel travel plans altogether,” said Green. Others who have already made their plans are still likely to travel. “What they may do to compensate for increased fuel costs is stay in more economical hotels, dine at more economical or cheaper restaurants and spend less on gifts and other incidentals,” he added.

“All travel destinations pay close attention to gas prices,” said Carl Whitehill of the Convention and Visitors Bureau in Gettysburg, Pa., one of many towns getting ready to mark the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. “We know fuel prices will affect travel decisions. While we still think millions of people will come to Gettysburg, they may not buy as many souvenirs or go to as many attractions as they’d hoped.”

Whitehill believes those millions of visitors will still eat in restaurants and stay in hotels. But Marti Mayne, spokesperson for the Professional Association of Innkeepers International, said country inn and B&B owners are concerned about the effect gas prices will have on guests’ travel plans and how those higher prices will affect food and energy costs at the inns.

“The B&B industry held its own during the 2008-09 gas crisis, as people stayed closer to home and ‘staycations’ became popular,” said Mayne. “The B&B industry expects this will be the trend again as most inns and B&Bs are located within a one-tank drive of a major metropolitan area.”

Still, she said some B&Bs are already rolling out offers that include complimentary gas gift cards and finishing touches are being put on a new B&B campaign that is sure to include more such offers.

For some travelers, a complimentary $20 gas card with a two-night stay won’t be a strong incentive to travel. But AAA’s Green said, “Others may look at this as a great idea and want to take advantage of it.”

And, free gas card or not, Green said that when fuel prices are up, drivers can stretch their travel dollars by remembering to properly inflate their tires, driving the speed limit, avoiding quick starts and stops and taking out any unnecessary weight in the trunk. “If you’re not going golfing, you don’t need to be driving around with those golf clubs,” said Green.

“We also suggest people shop for gas with their steering wheel,” he added. “Don’t drive 30 miles out of your way to buy cheaper gas. But you may be able to save three to five cents a gallon by driving a few extra blocks” or by consulting a website or smart phone app that tracks area gas prices.

Fly away — for more
Those planning spring or summer vacations abroad should be ready for sticker shock.

“If you’re planning on heading to Europe, know this: Fuel surcharges are over $400 round trip now with average taxes around $120,” said FareCompare.com’s Seaney. “This means before any fare is charged, you’re looking at $520 round trip, the highest we have tracked in 8 years.

“If you are shopping for early spring travel, it would behoove you to lock in now,” Seaney added.

Seaney’s tips for finding the best deal include shopping on Tuesday afternoons, when “the maximum cheap seats hit the reservation systems at 3 p.m.,” and flying on the least expensive days, which tend to be Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. He also suggests shopping for one ticket at a time, even if there are two or more people traveling together. “Airline reservations systems must have everyone in the party at the same price, even if there are a few cheaper seats.”

The bottom line? If you want to go somewhere, don’t wait: “Procrastination is not your friend when planes are full,” said Seaney. “Airlines have no reason to discount at the last minute.”

Source: Newsvine

By: George Dooley

Travel Agent

International scheduled traffic results for January show an 8.2 percent increase in passenger traffic and 9.1 percent growth in air freight compared to January 2010, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). IATA said it is watching closely as events unfold in the Middle East and that the region’s instability has sent oil prices skyrocketing.

“We begin the year with some good news. January traffic volumes are up—8.2 percent on January 2010 and 2.6 percent on December. With most major indices pointing to strengthening world trade and economic growth, this is positive for the industry’s prospects. But we are all watching closely as events unfold in the Middle East. The region’s instability has sent oil prices skyrocketing. Our current forecast is based on an average annual oil price of $84 per barrel (Brent). Today the price is over $100. For each dollar it increases, the industry is challenged to recover $1.6 billion in additional costs. With $598 billion in revenues, $9.1 billion in profits and a profit margin of just 1.5 percent, even with good news on traffic 2011 is starting out as a very challenging year for airlines,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

By January 2011, air travel volumes were 18 percent higher compared to the low point reached in early 2009 and some 6 percent above the pre-recession peak of early 2008. The 8.2 percent growth in passenger traffic shows a recovery from December’s slowdown (with 5.4 percent growth) that was related to severe weather in Europe and North America which reduced total traffic by 1-2 percent.
Passenger load factors are high, IATA reports, but there is evidence that supply growth is beginning to run ahead of demand. Compared to the previous January, the 8.2 percent demand increase was outstripped by a 9.1 percent increase in capacity, resulting in an average load factor of 75.7 percent. Adjusting for seasonality this is equates to a 77.7 percent load factor. This is a 1.1 percentage point drop from the October 2010 peak.

North American carriers recorded an 8.7 percent year-on-year growth in demand and a 10.0 percent increase in capacity in January. This imbalance saw load factors slip by nearly a full percentage point to 77.2 percent. International passenger traffic carried by North American airlines has now recovered to 2 percent above its pre-recession peak of early 2008, IATA said.

“As if the rising price of oil was not challenging enough, governments are increasing the cost of mobility with a growing contagion of taxes. In 2010 the industry was hit with billions of dollars of new or increased taxes in the UK, Austria and Germany. Now we see South Africa and Iceland planning increases. Governments need to improve their finances and restart their economies. Mobility is a catalyst for economic growth. Governments must understand that taxing air transport out of the range of price sensitive travelers and businesses makes very little economic sense,” said Bisignani.

IATA’s forecast for 2011 was made in December 2010 and anticipates an industry profit of $9.1 billion or a 1.5 percent net profit margin on $598 billion in revenues. This is based on an average annual oil price of $84 per barrel, a demand increase of 5.3 percent, flat cargo yields and a 0.5 percent increase in passenger yields. IATA said it will revise its forecast on March 2.

Visit www.IATA.org.

February 28, 2011 By: Jena Tesse Fox

Today, Lufthansa begins regular, scheduled flights from Frankfurt to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on its A380  aircraft. Inaugural flight LH400 departed Frankfurt at 11:05am and is scheduled to touchdown at JFK at 1:35pm. Lufthansa plans to increase the frequencies to JFK subsequently, and will ultimately offer daily service. New York’s JFK airport now is Lufthansa’s fourth A380 destination after Tokyo, Beijing and Johannesburg. Flights are available for booking on www.lufthansa.com.

“New York is one of the most important markets for Lufthansa, so it was imperative for us to launch transatlantic flights on our flagship aircraft to this U.S. gateway,” said Jens Bischof, Vice President The Americas for Lufthansa.

Lufthansa has equipped the A380 with 526 seats in a three-class configuration. Today’s A380 flight also marks the introduction of the brand-new First Class cabin to the North American market. It features eight seats on the upper deck, each measuring 6’9” feet in length and 2’7” feet in width. Best of all, the two first class bathrooms have separate changing and lavatory areas with more personal space and storage options.

Also on the upper deck is the award-winning Business Class cabin with 98 with larger luggage bins and a power supply that works with all worldwide connections. On the main deck are 420 Economy Class seats with individual in-seat video screens, an optimized ergonomic seat design and slimmer seat back resulting in two more inches of personal space per passenger.

Lufthansa has ordered a total of 15 A380 aircraft, all scheduled for delivery by 2015. Four A380 aircraft are already delivered.

For more information, visit www.lufthansa.com.

·  Airline disruptions

Those planning to travel by air to or from this destination should check with their airline or travel agent immediately to reconfirm travel arrangements. If your flight has been canceled, request the next available flight. Traffic on roadways leading to airports may be considerably slower than normal. Airports are likely to become very crowded, and lines will be long. Allow a good measure of extra time to get to the airport, check in and go through security.

·  Driving on ice/snow

Before driving in harsh winter conditions, make sure that your car is in good working order. Dress warmly and take along preventive supplies, such as a flashlight, windshield scraper, snow shovel and an abrasive material, such as sand, that you can use for traction if get you stuck. Most importantly, slow down, steer smoothly and leave a good measure of extra space between your vehicle and those around you. Shift to low gear when driving downhill. Watch for ice on bridges and overpasses. If your car goes into a skid, don’t brake, but ease off the accelerator and steer smoothly in the direction you want to go.

·  Railway disruptions

Those planning to travel by train or subway in this region should check with the railway immediately to reconfirm travel arrangements. If your train has been canceled, request a reservation on the next available train. Traffic on roadways near the train station may be considerably more congested than normal. Stations are likely to become very crowded, lines will be long and tempers among other passengers may be short. Allow a good measure of extra time to get to the station and check in.

Airlines  including American, Delta, Southwest and United canceled more than 1,400 flights from Chicago as a snowstorm that slammed the U.S. Midwest during the weekend moves toward Canada.

The storm, which dumped as much as 21.5 inches (55 centimeters) of snow in Minnesota, caused the roof of Minneapolis’s Metrodome to collapse. The National Football League game between the Minnesota Vikings and the New York Giants was moved to Ford Field in Detroit today. Wind and rain caused flight cancellations from Boston to Washington.

About 1,200 flights out of Chicago O’Hare International Airport and 250 out of Chicago’s Midway International Airport were canceled over the weekend, with more delays and cancellations expected, the Chicago Department of Aviation said yesterday. Heavy snow was reported in parts of northwest Indiana and southeast Michigan early today as the storm moves east.

“This winter storm is obviously causing havoc with air travel through the upper Midwest,” Mary Frances Fagan, a spokeswoman for AMR Corp., operator of American, said in a telephone interview from Chicago. “Hundreds of flights have to be canceled for safety reasons.”

As many as 2.3 million people a day may fly on U.S. airlines from Dec. 16 through Jan. 5 as demand rises 3.1 percent this holiday season compared with last year, the Air Transport Association forecast Dec. 8. Planes may be 90 percent full on average for the busiest days, the Washington-based industry group said in a statement.

At least 272 of Fort Worth, Texas-based AMR’s American Airlines, American Eagle and AmericanConnection flights were canceled out of Chicago, according to Fagan.

“With the delivery of its first 777-200LR (ET-ANN), Ethiopian is the first airline in Africa to operate the world’s most technologically advanced and longest-range airplane,” said Ethiopian Airlines CEO Ato Girma Wake. “This further reaffirms our commitment to be the leader of aviation in Africa.”

Ethiopian Airlines is investing in additional aircraft to broaden its network. The Addis Ababa-based company will use the Boeing 777-200LR for its new nonstop service from Washington D.C. and for its new long-haul nonstop routes like Beijing, China.

“The 777-200LR is the only airplane that provides the range and efficiency that Ethiopian needs to service its long-haul routes,” said Larry Loftis, vice president and general manager, 777 program.

The 777 program reached the 900-airplane milestone faster than any other twin-aisle airplane in history. The airplane’s performance and comfortable interior have made it the world’s most popular twin-engine long-haul commercial jetliner. The 777 program has had 1,165 orders from 61 customers worldwide.

The Boeing 777-200LR is capable of carrying passengers and cargo farther than any other jetliner. It is also capable of connecting any two cities in the globe nonstop. The 777-200LR can also carry a full cargo load on routes where other airplanes are payload limited.

Provisions for up to three optional fuel tanks have been added in the aft cargo area of the 777-200LR to be able to fly a range of 9,395 nautical miles (17,395 kilometers) with full passenger payload (301 passengers).

“As one of the premier airlines in Africa and around the world, Ethiopian has long used Boeing airplanes as a tool for achieving our business goals,” Wake said. “The strategic long-range feature of the 777-200LR will again help Ethiopian expand our network and is a perfect complement to the 787s that are on order.”