ravellers flying with SWISS now have access to more than 250 digital newspapers and magazines. The digital content is available to all customers, regardless of travel class.
Available in multiple languages, the digital content can be downloaded from swiss.com/ejournals. Passengers just have to provide their booking or ticket number.
The number of downloads will vary per passenger, with premium customers able to download more free content than those travelling in economy. The passenger’s Miles & More frequent flyer status will also be taken into consideration.
SWISS’s new eJournal range will gradually replace the selection of print newspapers and magazines that are currently carried on board.
The airline said this “will produce tangible savings in the flight’s weight and, in turn, deliver further ecological benefits, including a reduction of some 450 tonnes in SWISS’ annual carbon dioxide emissions”.
| A Future Travel Experience release | March 08, 2017
Winners and losers in tradeoff
Exactly how a liberal government’s attempt to appease its Green Party MPs led to a declaration of war, however figurative, from the prime minister of Israel is the strangest tale yet in New Zealand’s almost two centuries of farm politics.
Exactly how this state of affairs led to a covert New Zealand taxpayer funded stock handling depot in the middle of a Middle East desert only contributes to a tale which ranks alongside anything from Arabian Nights.
The way in which it made strange bedfellows of meat packing, slaughter house, freezing works proprietors and the Greens is just another chapter in this astonishing saga of shifting and unlikely alliances.
The saga begins with New Zealand’s centrist National government giving approval to the export of live sheep to the Middle East.
Farmers, and farm export consolidators were delighted. Live sheep exports allows them to obtain a premium price for their sheep, instead of having to take the schedule price of the licensed export processing meat companies.
The meat export processors, meanwhile, who derive much of their profit from the animal by- products ranging from medicinals to pet foods via rendering were and remain singularly hostile to live sheep exports. A big chunk of their potential income sails away with the sheep.
They keep quiet about this point of view for fear of antagonising farmers.
Middle East interests, who have substantial investments in the live trade both here and overseas, appear to have been in no doubt that after years of stop-go the live trade would resume.
The Greens now launched their most successful political lobby since the anti-nuclear era. The government backed down on live sheep exports.
The mysterious New Zealand taxpayer funded depot is one by-product of this. It is designed to appease now the would be live sheep importers.
They were and still are only partially appeased.
The anti Israel New Zealand sponsored resolution at United Nations was thrown in as another sop to the Middle East importers by now threatening a Gulf-wide boycott of anything at all from New Zealand .
This byzantine power play engulfing as it does politicians, diplomats and traders from the Gulf to United Nations via the South Pacific has also enraged farmers especially in the Hawkes Bay where much of the trade in its glory days was once centred.
The centrepiece of this was the drafting, notably at Maraekakaho, where the inspecting agents acting on behalf of the Middle East importers would assess the suitability or otherwise of the stock for export.
The fury of the Middle East importers at the broken promise is understandable given the timing of the live sheep shipments with the annual haj or pilgrimage to Mecca (pictured)
All this has simmered Omerta-style under the surface of public and even the farm-politics debate for quite some time.
Another unacknowledged and unmentioned element to this is that for the farmers, live sheep exports allow them to command a premium price for the stock – and to get paid.
The reason why the few established meat exporting processors have such a command on procurement is that they are big enough in terms of resources to ensure that they actually get paid at the other end.
In the meantime, the Middle East will fill its live sheep shipments from South America, notably Uruguay.
Live sheep exports gave farmers premium price plus guarantee of payment.
It is an ill wind that blows nobody any good.
So in this modern riddle of the sands, who are the winners?
Who are the losers?
The winners:-• The Greens• The meat processors, freezing works.• Uruguay• President Obama
The losers:-* Farmers* NZ Taxpayers* State of Israel
The Lesson:-The episode which began with live sheep and then made the transit of a lame duck US President Barack Obama still has a long way to go. But what is the lesson so far. Here we must touch down on Greece, classical epoch, in order to heed Aristotle who declared .......
A friend to all is a friend to none
| From the MSCNewsWire reporters' desk | Wednesday 11 January 2017 |
Emirates, which offers five double-decker A380 services a day out of New Zealand, is welcoming in the new year with special fares to a selection of points around its global network, including Australia, the UK, Europe and Africa.
The Hello 2017 Economy and Business Class fares are also on offer to destinations in Asia and the Middle East, as well as India and the Americas via Dubai
The five daily New Zealand flights – a non-stop service to Dubai from Auckland and three others via Australia, plus a Christchurch service via Sydney – offer the chance to travel all the way by A380 from New Zealand to 17 destinations in Europe among other cities.
From today until January 23 the Hello 2017 fares will include Economy Class return to Australia from $439, Asia $899, Indian sub-continent $1,299, Europe $1,499, United Kingdom and Africa $1,599, the Americas $1,799 and the Middle East $1,899.
Special Business Class fares are also available.
The fares are inclusive of all taxes and are valid for select travel dates. They are subject to availability on specific flights and various conditions apply.
“Emirates likes to welcome in each new year with a special treat for travellers and this year’s offering is no exception,” said Emirates’ New Zealand regional manager, Chris Lethbridge. “In all, we have special fares to more than 80 destinations, including the most popular places on our network.”
In total, Emirates offers connections at its Dubai hub to 38 places in Europe, 22 in Africa and 17 in the Middle East.
Passengers travelling on the three-class, 491-seat A380 aircraft will enjoy spacious cabins and experience a peaceful journey in the world’s quietest long-range jet. They can use the onboard Wi-Fi; indulge in food prepared by international chefs, and be entertained by Emirates’ award-winning ice system which offers over 2,500 channels of inflight entertainment across all cabins.
Emirates has redefined the core experience of premium travel. First Class and Business Class passengers will have access to the A380’s onboard Lounge, with space to mingle whilst enjoying canapés and the beverages prepared by the onboard bartender. First Class passengers can enjoy the aircraft’s First Class Private Suites and experience the aircraft’s signature onboard Shower Spa.
Emirates is the largest operator of the Airbus A380 with 89 in its fleet, and has carried over 65 million passengers on its flagship aircraft since 2008
Bookings can be made through www.emirates.com/nz or phone 0508 364 728.
New Zealand travellers will be able to fly all the way by A380 from Auckland and Christchurch to Morocco from late March next year when Emirates upgrades capacity on the service.
Emirates, voted the World’s Best Airline in the 2016 Skytrax World Airline Awards, announced today that it will operate the first ever commercial Airbus A380 flight to Morocco and North Africa, when it takes the iconic double decker aircraft to Casablanca daily from 26 March 2017.
The airline’s flagship aircraft, which continues to excite travellers and aviation enthusiasts alike, will replace the daily Boeing 777-300ER aircraft currently used on the Dubai-Casablanca route, offering increased seat capacity across all three cabin classes and an enhanced premium product experience.
All five daily Emirates A380 services from New Zealand will provide a direct connection at Dubai with the Casablanca flight.
The switch to the A380 offers a total of 1834 additional seats per week, meeting a growing demand from travellers.
Casablanca has become one Emirates’ most popular destinations, and has seen steady growth since the service launched in March 2002. Passengers travelling on the three-class, 491-seat aircraft, will enjoy spacious cabins and experience a peaceful journey in the world’s quietest long-range jet. They can use the onboard Wi-Fi; indulge in food prepared by international chefs, and be entertained by Emirates’ award-winning ice system which offers over 2,500 channels of inflight entertainment across all cabins.
Emirates is the largest operator of the Airbus A380, and has carried over 65 million passengers on its flagship aircraft since 2008.
So far, Emirates has introduced A380 services to over 45 destinations across its network. Its current fleet of 88 A380s has visited over 64 airports, flew nearly 986 million kilometres, and made 74,263 return flights to date.
| An Emirates release | Dec 21, 2016 |
The US$11 million refurbishment project took two years to complete and is part of the airline’s continuous investment to improve and upgrade its products for a seamless and enjoyable travel experience.
Emirates’ premium customers, including those on the airline’s five daily New Zealand services to Dubai and beyond, can now look forward to an enhanced lounge experience with three new distinct concept areas within the Emirates Business Class Lounge. The latest food and beverage concepts cater to diverse tastes and include a barista experience in partnership with Costa Coffee, a Health hub with Voss water featuring healthier options, and an exclusive Moët & Chandon champagne lounge.
The new offering is in addition to the seven other locations within the lounge with gourmet cuisine prepared by on-site chefs and a complimentary full bar service, which includes premium wine, spirits and champagne.
All the food and beverages offered within the lounge are complimentary for Emirates First Class and Business Class customers, as well as Emirates Skywards Platinum, Gold and Silver members - the airline’s frequent flyer programme.
Barista experience
Customers passing through the Emirates Business Class lounge in need of a caffeine fix can enjoy complimentary freshly- brewed beverages prepared by Costa Coffee baristas as well as pastries, provided round the clock. The coffee bar will serve signature Costa drinks made from slow-roast beans of the coffee house’s own unique Mocha Italia blend.
Beverages available include iced coffees and favourites like cappuccinos and caffe lattes.
Health hub
For the health conscious traveller, Emirates has introduced the Health hub in partnership with Voss water. With an increasing demand for health, well-being and more nutritious meals, Emirates is the first airline to have a dedicated health hub within its lounge.
The new station allows travellers to rehydrate and recharge before their flights with a selection of fruit and water infusions. It also features a healthy menu of gourmet sandwiches, wraps, and salads. Healthier beverages such as a selection of juices and smoothies are also available.
Champagne lounge
Customers looking to unwind before their flight can look forward to the Moët & Chandon champagne lounge created exclusively for Emirates. The first-of-its-kind lounge to be located in an airport reinforces Emirates and Moët Hennessy’s longstanding partnership of over 25 Years.
Moët Hennessy champagnes are a mainstay of the Emirates experience; however, this is the first time an airline is serving four of Moët & Chandon's finest champagnes in one place. This includes Moët Impérial, Moët Rosé Impérial, Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage and Moët Nectar Impérial.
To complement each champagne, chefs from Emirates flight catering and the in-house lounge teams collaborated with Moët & Chandon, to create a unique selection of canapés - from sweet to savoury flavours. The canapé menus are changed monthly and include selections such as smoked salmon wrapped in nori with wasabi mayonnaise to complement the Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2006 and passion fruit and jasmine tea macaroons to be paired with Moët Nectar Impérial.
Guests can enjoy their drinks at the chic bar featuring a golden wave design adorned with 2,400 intricate gold leaves applied individually by hand.
The three new refreshment areas are the first of a several new concepts planned for the lounges at the Emirates hub in Dubai. In the coming year, Emirates is looking to further improve the customer experience by introducing a sports bar and a cocktail bar within its lounges.
The Business Class lounge in concourse B is one of six Emirates lounges at Dubai International Airport and is part of a network of 39 dedicated airport lounges located within major airports around the globe. Each lounge has been designed with the same attention to detail and exceptional service offering premium customers the highest standards of comfort and ease at every stage of their journey.
The newly refurbished lounge measures close to 10,000 square feet to accommodate over 1,500 customers – a 40% increase in seating capacity. In addition to the new refreshment stations, the children’s play area with arcade quality games has been doubled in size, and the Timeless Spa within its premise has been renovated and offers hair, beauty and therapy treatments.
Lounge guests can also refresh with a shower, unwind at designated quiet areas, stay up to date with the latest news and live sports and stay connected with complimentary Wi-Fi.
Six of New Zealand’s leading independent wine experts have come together to create “The Fine Wines of New Zealand” – a list of the country’s most prestigious wines.
Air New Zealand will start to feature wines from the Fine Wines of New Zealand selection in its Business Premier cabins from September.
A selection panel comprising Masters of Wine Alastair Maling, Michael Brajkovich, Sam Harrop, Simon Nash and Steve Smith along with Master Sommelier Cameron Douglas has agreed on the list for 2016, which includes 47 wines representing seven varietals.
This group of leading New Zealand wine experts met several times in late 2015 and in the first half of 2016 to define the criteria that had to be met for a wine to earn the prestigious Fine Wine of New Zealand status. One of the key criteria is consistency, with a wine having had to have been produced to an exceptional standard for a minimum of five consecutive years.
A wine could only earn its Fine Wine of New Zealand status if all of the selection panel, which was supported by Master of Wine Bob Campbell, agreed it met the highest of standards. This saw several wines drop out of contention.
“It’s been a real pleasure to be involved in this process and play a part in promoting the country’s very best wines. For New Zealand wine to truly compete on the world stage there needs to be an ongoing focus on quality and on continually lifting the game,” Brajkovich said.
Air New Zealand will start to feature wines from the Fine Wines of New Zealand selection in its Business Premier cabins from September.
Air New Zealand chief operations officer Bruce Parton says as a longstanding supporter of New Zealand’s wine industry, the airline is proud to share with its premium customers some of the country’s leading wines, many of which retail for more than NZD 100 a bottle.
“We believe we can help further build awareness and appreciation of these world class wines with international travellers and propel leading New Zealand wineries to even greater commercial success. We will be doing this through promoting the wines on board via our inflight entertainment system, at offshore events and using our contacts internationally to help open up key export markets for the wineries should they need this support.
“Air New Zealand has carved out an enviable reputation globally for its premium on board wine selection over many years and we believe this latest commitment to the Fine Wines of New Zealand takes it to another level.
Cathay Pacific has special fares on sale until 19 September including return Premium Economy class to London from $4,429.Business class fares are available from $6,689 for a return trip to Zurich and return business class fares to Rome are available from $6,649.These fares are available for departure from now until 30 November 2016 and 15 January to 31 March 2017.Cathay Pacific also has a last minute one way deal to Frankfurt from $999 economy class for departures between now and 15 November 2016, on sale until 31 August. All fares include taxes and fly via Hong Kong.
TravelInc
Monday, August 8, 2016 — DUBAI, U.A.E., 8th August 2016: Emirates announced today an 11% capacity increase to Manchester with the deployment of a third daily A380 on the route. As of 1st January 2017, the replacement of the Boeing 777-300ER will mean that all Emirates flights to Manchester will be operated by the iconic double decker aircraft. The airline also unveiled plans to swap its current A380 service at Birmingham from the morning to the afternoon departure slot, in order to offer customers even more connections beyond Dubai to other Emirates A380 destinations – ensuring a seamless “A380 to A380” experience.
Thanks to the new aircraft deployment, Emirates will offer 2,198 additional weekly seats on the route, enabling further business and leisure travel between Dubai and Manchester. The airline also expects to break the symbolic mark of one million passengers carried on the route for this financial year, attesting to the growing demand in the market. With a total of 517 seats in a three-class cabin configuration, the aircraft features 14 private suites in First Class, 76 flat-bed seats in Business Class and 427 spacious seats in Economy Class.
First and Business Class passengers on the Emirates A380 can spend time during their flight relaxing or networking in the renowned Onboard Lounge on the upper deck of the aircraft. Those in First Class can enjoy the exclusive use of the on-board shower spas to refresh during flights. Premium customers are offered complimentary chauffeur drive to and from Manchester Airport, lounge access and priority check-in. Passengers in all classes will enjoy access to free Wi-Fi and over 2,500 channels of films, TV shows, music and games, through Emirates’ ice Digital Widescreen, which was recently named the World’s Best Inflight Entertainment at the prestigious Skytrax World Airline Awards.
Manchester has been an important destination for Emirates over the last 25 years and the second route launched into the UK after London Gatwick. With 21 weekly flights, Emirates enables convenient and seamless connections to popular destinations such as Bangkok, Perth, Singapore, Mumbai and across Emirates’ global network of over 150 destinations. Flight EK21 will depart from Dubai at 0300hrs and arrive in Manchester at 0700hrs. The return flight EK22 will depart from Manchester at 0845, with a 1945hrs arrival time in Dubai.
Emirates is also adjusting its A380 schedule to Birmingham in order to enable even more convenient A380 to A380 connections via its hub in Dubai. As of 1st January 2017, the A380 will operate flights EK37/38 instead of flights EK39/40 as it currently does. Leaving Birmingham at 2045hrs, EK38 arrives in Dubai at 0740hrs; while EK37 departs from Dubai at 1450hrs to arrive in Birmingham at 1845hrs. The A380 service to Birmingham will continue to operate with a two-class configuration aircraft, offering 615 seats in total. Passengers travelling to other destinations across the UK can also take advantage of Emirates’ codeshare agreement with FlyBe.
Emirates is the world’s largest operator of A380s with 81 currently in its fleet and a further 61 on order. To book your seat on the award-winning Emirates A380, visit www.emirates.com.
KLM has announced that it will modernise the World Business Class cabin interiors on all of its Airbus A330s. Passengers will be able to experience the new-look cabin on A330-operated services from early 2018.
The World Business Class cabin can already be found on KLM’s Boeing 787s, as well as retrofitted Boeing 777-200 and 747-400 aircraft. All of the carrier’s Boeing 777-300s will also have the new premium cabin by June 2017.
Among the highlights are fully flat seats, 16-inch in-flight entertainment (IFE) monitors with content in 12 languages, and ample storage space for personal items.
The addition of the new World Business Class cabin to the A330 fleet is part of KLM’s ongoing investment in enhancing passenger comfort, which has also seen the introduction of a new economy class product, investment in in-flight connectivity, and upgrades to the IFE system. - August 5, 2016
Dusseldorf has become the third German city in Singapore Airlines’ route network, with the arrival of flight SQ338 from Singapore this morning.
The new route is being served with the latest-generation aircraft to join the Singapore Airlines fleet, the Airbus A350-900. The first service departed Singapore Changi Airport at around 2340hrs local time last night and arrived at Dusseldorf Airport at around 0620hrs local time this morning, after a flight of nearly 13 hours.
Dusseldorf will initially be served three times per week. Singapore Airlines also serves the German cities of Frankfurt and Munich.
Customers departing from Singapore were treated to an assortment of food and beverages including champagne at a special boarding gate event held to commemorate the inaugural flight. They also received an exclusive goodie bag containing a commemorative certificate, a batik luggage belt with weighing scale and a wooden miniature silhouette of the Dusseldorf skyline.
Upon arrival at Dusseldorf Airport, the aircraft received a water canon salute.
With advanced technology and superior operating efficiency, the A350-900 offers customers an improved travelling experience with features such as higher ceilings, larger windows, an extra wide body and lighting designed to reduce jetlag.
Singapore Airlines took delivery of its first A350-900 in March and now has four of the aircraft type in its fleet, with another 63 on firm order. The initial batch of A350s is being fitted with 253 seats in three classes, seating 42 customers in Business Class, 24 in Premium Economy Class and 187 in Economy Class.
The A350 will form a key part of the Airline’s fleet in the years ahead, allowing for the introduction of new services such as non-stop flights between Singapore and San Francisco from October, helping to boost connectivity to and through the Singapore hub.
A Singapore Airlines press release July 22, 2016
Palace of the Alhambra, Spain
By: Charles Nathaniel Worsley (1862-1923)
From the collection of Sir Heaton Rhodes
Oil on canvas - 118cm x 162cm
Valued $12,000 - $18,000
Offers invited over $9,000
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242
Mount Egmont with Lake
By: John Philemon Backhouse (1845-1908)
Oil on Sea Shell - 13cm x 14cm
Valued $2,000-$3,000
Offers invited over $1,500
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242