Best Air launches operations with Dhaka-Chittagong service

14 January 2008 marked Best Air’s inaugural passenger flight from ZIA International Airport Dhaka to Shah Amanat International Airport Chittagong.

The passenger flight launch was inaugurated by Mr. M. Haider Uzzaman the Chairman of Best Air, His Excelency Mr. Abdul Latif Ali Al Mawash Ambassedor of Kuwait and His Excellency Mr. Chatermpol Thanchitt Ambassador of Thailand.

The airline will operate four daily flights on the Dhaka Chittagong route, two flights from Dhaka to Chittagong and two flights back from Chittagong.

With valet service, individual customer care program, escort service, meal choice and unique online ticket reservation Best Air is set to become the predominant airline in Bangladesh

BA's longhaul flights back to normal after Boeing accident at Heathrow

British Airways is planning to operate all of its longhaul departures from London Heathrow and up to 90 per cent of its shorthaul departures today (Friday, January 18) but is strongly advising customers to check ba.com for the latest flight information before leaving home.

Due to the disruption on Thursday January 17 a number of aircraft, pilots and cabin crew are out of position and this is having a knock-on effect on some shorthaul services on Friday.

A number of flights into Heathrow will also be cancelled throughout Friday January 18. All flights to and from London Gatwick are expected to operate as normal.

Customers due to travel on a cancelled flights will also be able to refund or rebook their flights. This can be done via the airline's website or by calling British Airways.

"Any customers on cancelled flights are urged not to come to the airport as this will cause additional congestion," says BA in a statement.

BA has confirmed yesterday (17 January 2008) that a Boeing 777, registration GYMMM operating flight BA038 from Beijing to Heathrow was involved in an incident at Heathrow airport.

British Airways chief executive Willie Walsh said: "We are very proud of the way our crew safely evacuated all 136 passengers on board with only three minor injuries." There were three flight crew and 13 cabin crew on board.

Sheikh Ahmed opens three hotels in Dubai Festival City

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Department of Civil Aviation and Chairman and CEO of Emirates Group, has formally opened three luxury properties in Dubai Festival City at a ceremony on Thursday (January 17, 2008).

In the presence of officials, businessmen and hotel management, including the DTCM Director General, Mr. Khalid A bin Sulayem, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed cut the ceremonial ribbon to symbolically declare the luxury properties open to business. The hotel staff accorded a warm welcome to the VIPs.

Also present were Mr. Sultan bin Mejrin, Director General of Dubai Land Department, Mr. Juma bin Humaidan, Assistant Director General of Dubai Land Department, Mr. Issam Al Humaidan, Dubai’s Attorney General, and Mr. Eyad Ali Abdul Rahman, DTCM Executive Director Media Relations and Acting Director Business Development.

On arrival, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed was welcomed by Mr. Abdullah Al Futtaim, Chairman of Al Futtaim group, and Mr. Omar Al Futtaim, CEO of Al Futtaim Group, owners of the three properties and Dubai Festival City.

The elegant InterContinental Dubai Festival City, superior upscale Crowne Plaza Dubai Festival City and the lavish long-stay InterContinental Residence Suites Dubai Festival City are the latest luxury hotels to open in Dubai. All the three properties have been completed in just three years. The project is the largest in the history of IHG; having three properties open simultaneously within the same location is a first for the group.

Together with the two hotels and InterContinental Residence Suites Dubai Festival City, the group will offer more than 1,000 rooms within the multi-billion dirham Dubai Festival City development. Both the hotels are internally connected to the Festival Waterfront Centre, the 550 retail outlets and 90 restaurants and cafes are just a minute’s walk away. Two 18-hotel championship golf courses are also close to hand, as is a scenic stroll along the waterfront promenade, connecting to the 100 berth Festival Marina.

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed toured the 36-floor InterContinental Dubai Festival City which is a visually iconic example of modern architecture and offers stunning views of the city’s skyline, picturesque Dubai Creek and the new Festival Waterfront Centre. There are 121 suites, three Presidential Suites and one Royal Suite. The brand’s iconic Club Intercontinental is located on the 26th floor offering panoramic views of Dubai.

The Crowne Plaza Dubai Festival City is a 316-room property, including 16 suites and two Presidental Suites, is designed for business travelers.

The InterContinental Residence Suites Dubai Festival City has 212 stylish high-rise apartments, encompassing studios, one, two and three bedroom suites and a stunning royal suite spread over two floors with private elevator.

ITB Berlin relaunches website

Following an extensive technical and graphical relaunch the ITB Berlin is now ready with an updated logo and a revised website. “The internet is the most important instrument for communication and marketing for the ITB Berlin”, according to David Ruetz, Senior Manager and ITB Berlin Director. “Our aim is always to be one step ahead of the market and its requirements. That is why, in addition to visually redesigning the web pages new modules have been included and the navigation structure has been made easier to use. As a result all the various target groups can find the relevant information more quickly in their respective navigation areas. New features include improved, faster access via the newsticker, and quicklinks that give direct access to information about the ITB Berlin for specific target groups.”

The new download centre is yet another outstanding service. “With this download centre we can provide our customers with the basis for successfully marketing their appearance at the ITB Berlin”, says David Ruetz, emphasising the importance of this convenient service.

“The optimised web portal of the ITB Berlin is setting the standard at Messe Berlin, and will be introduced in turn as the websites for each of the company’s events are relaunched. In addition to an attractive new design we have also ensured that access is barrier-free”, explains Dr. Jana Dewitz, Divisional Director Marketing & Media at Messe Berlin.

The internet pages can now be read and operated by any user, including those with visual handicaps. The ITB Berlin website complies with the guidelines laid down in the “Barrier-free Information Technology Regulation” (BITV), making it largely accessible to people with various disabilities. Suitable text recognition programmes have also been introduced. “Another advantage of the barrier-free internet: in future content from the ITB Berlin portal can be easily displayed on mobile terminals”, says Dr. Dewitz, referring to some of the additional benefits of this development.