MS completes move EGYPTAIR has completed its move to the new Terminal 3 at Cairo International, joining six other Star Alliance carriers as part of the group's "move under one roof" initiative. According to Chairman Tawfic Assy, the carrier is favoured in the Middle East and Africa, has benefited out of joining the alliance with an increase of 40 per cent of travellers to African destinations," he said. It serves 15 continental airports, with Lusaka and Douala set to come online soon. The number could grow to 25. Against global crisis and H1N1 TICKET sales across the Asia-Pacific region fell more than 14 per cent during May, the first month in which the full impact of the new swine flue pandemic was felt by the travel industry. The figures released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which includes 93 members, show that global demand fell an average 9.3 per cent compared with the same month last year. Passenger loads averaged just 71.2 per cent on all flights -- little more than 1 per cent above the point when a flight becomes profitable. In Mexico, where the pandemic began, planes were taking off with 40 per cent of their seats empty. The director general of IATA, Giovanni Bisignani, said the entire aviation business was being shaped by the crisis and that airports and air navigation service providers would have to reduce their costs. "Even if we look beyond the crisis, it is difficult to see a return to business as usual," he said. The only bright spot in an otherwise gloomy operating environment in May was a slight recovery in freight volumes where the first sign of improvement was seen since volumes began to fall last December. Tonnages improved just over 4 per cent compared with loads carried during April. Middle East airlines were the only airlines to report improved passenger growth with numbers up 9.5 per cent on May last year. Safeguarding the future THE GERMAN carrier, Lufthansa has published its 2009 edition of its sustainability report "Balance". It contains extensive information on the Group's commitment to ecological, community and societal issues in pursuit of its business activities. "Economic success is the fundamental prerequisite for fulfilling our self-commitment to performing equally well in other disciplines of sustainability -- environmental care and social responsibility. "Balance" shows that we make investments not only in the latest technologies but also in people. That is our contribution to safeguarding the future," said Lufthansa Chairman and CEO Wolfgang Mayrhuber. The report showed that in 2008, the Group invested 194 million euros in the training and further education of its employees. Among others, it also took on 3,715 new Service Professionals. At year-end 2008, the Lufthansa Group was employing a total of 107,800 people from 125 nations. Of the total, 35,536 were employed at the Group's biggest base in Frankfurt am Main. Flexible work-time models have long since been an established element of corporate life. The number of staff on part-time now accounts for 26.5 per cent of the total workforce; 42.7 per cent of female employees work on a part-time basis. In 2008, Lufthansa again invested immense effort in measures to protect the climate and the environment. Fuel consumption of the Lufthansa fleet now stands at 4.34 litres per 100 passenger- kilometres. The most fuel-efficient aircraft in the Group with an average fuel burn of only 3.24 litres is the Airbus A340-300 operated by SWISS. bmi Heathrow Lounge BRITISH CARRIER, bmi, has recently opened its new international lounge, bmi Number One Heathrow to its passengers on Business Class, or having a Gold or Silver Diamond Club card or Star Alliance Gold card. The 900 square metre flagship lounge is located above Gate 5 in Terminal 1 in the London Heathrow airport with seating for over 180 customers. The new international lounge is the latest in a series of innovations from bmi. In Egypt, the airline recently launched the country's first Airbus A330 service from London to Cairo and kicked off its complimentary Chauffeur Drive service in Cairo for all Business Class customers. Bookings can be made up to 24 hours before a flight for airport drop-off or pick-up. bmi Number One Heathrow is divided into four key areas. The Lounge features a centrally- located fireplace, open fire, a range of seating options from lounge seats to day beds and partitioned room sets that offer increased privacy and great views over the runway. The Cafe is the dedicated food and beverage zone for bmi Number One Heathrow with a range of hot and cold food including a range of freshly-prepared sandwiches, platters, fresh fruit, ice cream and salads in addition to steaming hot soup. The Study offers seating created for work, with appropriate lighting, laptop tablet tables and PCs available to browse the internet at broadband speed with free Wifi. PCs are available for customers who do not to bring their own or don't want to switch them on, and seating with internationally compliant charger sockets. Finally, The Local is an informal bar area with a range of spirits, soft drinks, champagne, classic beers and fine wines. Qatar Airways activates at Le Bourget QATAR AIRWAYS announced that it was increasing flights between Doha and Paris to twice- daily services -- up from the current 11 per week. The additional services, effective from the start of the Northern Winter schedules on 25 October, will strengthen Qatar Airways' operations in Europe and offer passengers more choice with increased connectivity to points across the Middle East, South Asia and the Far East. The announcement was made at Le Bourget, venue for the centenary edition of the Paris Air Show. Qatar Airways signed an order for 24 Airbus A320 aircraft, together with a $700 million deal with IAE's V2500 SelectOne engines to power the new fleet. "Our aircraft orders of the narrow-body A320 family of aircraft, which are both modern and fuel efficient, will give us greater flexibility, operating on European, Asian and Middle East routes with deliveries beginning in November," stated Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker. During the event in Paris, the carrier also revealed its corporate travel rewards programme for small and medium-sized businesses following successful trials in the airline's home market of Qatar. Named Qbiz, the rewards programme makes it easier for companies with limited travel budgets to maximise their savings when travelling with the airline. The programme allows companies and employees to accumulate Qmiles through the airline's Privilege Club loyalty programme. Businesses looking to join Qbiz can do so online on Qatar Airways' website qatarairways.com/qbiz. BA pilot victimised A SCOTS airline pilot was victimised by his colleagues after he exposed the "canteen culture of racism" at British Airways, a tribunal has heard. BA captain Douglas Maughan, 54, of Fettes Row, spoke out about racism among the airline's pilots in a newspaper article after taking offence at a comment made about the OJ Simpson trial during a formal presentation. He said after the article was published he received hate mail from colleagues saying that "jocks" should go back "to the welfare state paid for by the English". He claimed a pilot trainer, Captain Adrian South, deliberately marked him down in a regular flying assessment in retaliation. He complained to bosses about him, but his grievance was dismissed. The long-haul Boeing 777 pilot is suing the airline claiming of victimisation on racial grounds.
