THE NATIONAL carrier's tourism branch Karnak has launched a new service to provide customers with tourism packages and offers through a phone hotline. "This new service is an added value to the group's core business," explained Hussein Massouod, Egyptair Holding company chairman. "We are optimistic it will help tourism which has suffered a drastic drop at present," Massoud added. By calling the number 16175, customers can get full help to organise tourism programmes inside and outside Egypt, book and issue flight tickets onboard Egyptair as well as many other airlines, and even hire a limo for transfer. Customers will also be able to organise conference services for groups and companies. "This step is one of many we have adopted recently to satisfy our customers," commented Mahmoud Hamed, Karnak chairman. "We have built a separate website to communicate with travellers and travel organisers. We are now about to complete a new e-trade project where customers can buy services directly using their credit cards," Hamed added. KLM updates business KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has introduced a new Europe Business Class to provide business travellers to European destinations with more seat comfort and space, an improved catering service, and priority service on departure and arrival. According to Erik Varwijk, executive vice-president of KLM Commercial, extensive research among KLM business class passengers revealed a clear need for a better, more comfortable service to enable passengers to work or relax onboard. A seat in the new Europe Business Class provides one-and- a-half-times more room than before, because the middle seat is always left empty and can no longer be reserved. The menu and presentation of meals onboard is being completely modernised, introducing four menus every month. The new service is being introduced on all flights in Europe, amounting to 500 flights a day to more than 60 destinations. Next generation to Algerians BOEING manufacturers reached a major milestone with long-time customer Air Algérie when it delivered the 50th Boeing jetliner -- a Next-Generation 737-800 -- to the North African carrier. The B737 was the fourth of seven ordered in 2009. This delivery also marked the 40-year partnership between Boeing and Air Algérie. Since receiving its first Boeing airplane in March 1971, Air Algérie has expanded to include 18 B737s and three B767s. Boeing also delivered the first B737-800 to Algeria's Tassili Airlines, a fully owned subsidiary of Sonatrach -- the state-owned Algerian oil company. Tassili Airlines transports employees to and from its oilfields and bases. The first of an order of four airplanes signed in 2009, this is Tassili Airline's first Boeing aircraft. Today's operators fly B737s that are 5 per cent more fuel-efficient than the first Next-Generation B737s delivered in 1998, and another 2 per cent improvement is on the way. Sohag replaces Assiut FLYDUBAI Airline started a new service to Sohag in Upper Egypt last week, marking its presence in one of Egypt's emerging cultural hubs. Sohag is the airline's third destination in Egypt, following Alexandria and Luxor, replacing the Assiut route in response to consumer demand. Based on a low-cost business model, Flydubai offers a value-for-money product at an extremely competitive price. A one-way fare to Sohag from Dubai starts from LE630, including one piece of hand luggage weighing up to 7kg and one small laptop or handbag. Checked baggage starts at LE75 for 20kgs. A seat with extra legroom costs LE150 extra. Flights from Sohag to Dubai start at LE810.
