Atlantic Hoppers

Emirates adds flights to Seattle and Dallas

Emirates will introduce new direct flights from United Arab Emirates to Dallas-Fort Worth and Seattle-Tacoma International Airports from next year.

Flights from Dubai to Dallas Fort Worth will commence on 2nd February 2012. They will leave Dubai daily at 02:45, arriving at Dallas-Fort Worth at 0905hrs. The return flight leaves Dallas at 11:50, arriving at Dubai International Airport at 12:20 the following day.

Flights from Dubai to Seattle will follow a month later, on 1st March 2012, leaving Dubai daily at 09:50 and arriving at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport at 13:10. On the way back, the flight will depart Seattle at 17:10, arriving in Dubai at 19:40 the following day.

Both services will be operated by Boeing 777 aircraft.

“These new services emphasise Emirates’ confidence in, and long-term commitment to, the United States,” said His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group. “With six gateways offering convenient connectivity from points across the country, customers travelling to and from the US will find it easier than ever to access our vast global network.”

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New Lufthansa flights from Munich to Mexico

From next summer, Lufthansa will be introducing its first route between Munich and Central America.

Flights from Munich to Mexico City will commence on 26 March 2012, five times a week, supplementing the existing daily flights from Frankfurt to Mexico City.

The route will be operated by Airbus A340-600.

Thomas Klühr, Lufthansa German Airlines Board member, comments: “we are delighted to be able to offer a connection from our Munich hub to Central America. In economic terms, in particular, Mexico is gaining in importance for the Bavarian market.”

Lufthansa describes Mexico City as the political, business, social and cultural capital of the country, as well as a “fascinating tourist destination”, due to numerous museums and monuments. With a population of 30 million, Mexico City is one of world’s largest metropolitan areas and Mexico’s largest transport hub.

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Air France starts flights Paris to Lima

Since 21 June, Air France started operating 5 weekly flights between Paris and Lima, the capital of Peru.

Air France and KLM currently offer 12 weekly flights between Europe and Peru, making the Group the leading European carrier between Peru and Europe:

5 weekly flights from Paris CDG to Lima by Air France; and
7 weekly flights from Amsterdam to Lima by KLM

Peru is the preferred South American desitnation for French travellers.

In addition to Lima, Air France and KLM serve 4 other cities in the Andean countries and Central America:
Flights from Paris CDG to Bogota, Colombia
Flights from Paris CDG to Caracas, Venezuela
Flights from Amsterdam to Guayaquil, Ecuador
Flights from Amsterdam to Panama City, Panama

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Free stopover in Iceland on flights from US to Europe

Book a flight from the US to Europe with Icelandair and get a FREE stopover in Iceland!

Icelandair offers round-trip fares from the US to Iceland this Fall from $469 and to Europe (with free stopover in Iceland) from $549. For example:

Flights from Boston to:

• Reykjavik from $469
• London from $569
• Frankfurt from $699

Flights from New York JFK to:

• Reykjavik from $489
• London from $549
• Glasgow from $549

Flights from Seattle to:

• Reykjavik from $519
• London from $ 729
• Glasgow from $729

Flights from Washington, D.C. to:

• Reykjavik from $469
• London from $569
• Frankfurt from $639

Travel Period:
Boston, New York, Washington, D.C. – Oct 30 – Dec 11
Seattle – Oct 23 – Dec 13
Book By – Jun 30

Need some inspiration what to do in Iceland when you’re there? Here are some useful links:

• Visit Iceland this October for the Airwaves Music Festival or check out more Iceland Festivals
• Reykjavik Places to Visit
• Find hotels in Iceland

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Lufthansa is named Best Transatlantic Airline

Lufthansa was named the Best Transatlantic Airline for customer Product and Service Quality at the 2011 World Airline Awards, in a ceremony held in the French Air and Space Museum at the Paris Air Show.

The runners-up in this Best Transatlantic Airline category are Continental Airlines, 2nd place in this category, ahead of KLM in 3rd position.

Voted by over 18.8 million airline passengers from 100 different nationalities, the World Airline Awards™ are the most prestigious and respected quality recognition of front-line product and service standards across the world airline industry. With 200 airlines featured, the awards reflect customer satisfaction levels across 38 different items of airline front-line product and service.

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KLM to resume flights from Amsterdam to Rio

From 1 November 2011, for the first time after 12 years, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will restart scheduled flights from Amsterdam to Rio de Janeiro.

KLM President & CEO Peter Hartman commented: “Latin America is an emerging market. By adding Rio de Janeiro as KLM’s 9th destination in Latin America, we intend to greatly strengthen our position in this rapidly expanding region. Because Brazil is experiencing such strong economic growth we see Rio’s inclusion in the KLM network as beneficial to our business passengers. Foreign investment in the region is increasing strongly, fuelled by the growing oil and gas industry”.

Rio is also an attractive destination for European tourists especially because of famously popular beaches like Copacabana and Ipanema. Brazil will host the World Cup in 2014 and the Olympic Games will take place in Rio in 2016.

From the start of the winter season, KLM will operate direct service three times a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) to and from Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport in Rio de Janeiro.

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Virgin Atlantic to start flights from London to Cancun

Today (16 June), Virgin Atlantic announced the launch of the airline’s 33rd destination with the introduction of flights from London Gatwick to Cancun, Mexico (NOTE: flights are not bookable until mid-July).

The twice weekly service will debut June 12, 2012 and expects up to 94,000 Virgin Atlantic customers traveling between London and Cancun in the first year.

Speaking in Miami, Sir Richard Branson, President of Virgin Atlantic said: “We are so pleased to be launching flights to Cancun next year. Many customers have asked us to fly direct to this exciting destination over the years. With its superb beaches, great hotels and cultural sites, tourism in Cancun is thriving. We believe that we can drive demand ever higher by providing great competition to our rivals with our award winning product and service.

“Cancun is one of the top five long-haul leisure destinations for UK travelers, so we are delighted to be able to add this route to network. This route launch further cements our position as the UK’s leading long haul leisure airline.”

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Alitalia starts flights from Rome to Rio de Janeiro

Alitalia started flights from Rome Fiumicino Airport to Rio de Janeiro from 1st June.

The Rome – Rio de Janeiro flight will operate with 3 weekly frequencies throughout June, these will increase to 4 in July.

The connection to Rio de Janeiro widens Alitalia’s intercontinental network in South America, making Alitalia the first company in terms of connections between Italy and Brazil and the only carrier offering direct scheduled flights from Italy to Rio de Janeiro.

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Hellenic Imperial Airways to start flights Athens – New York

Hellenic Imperial Airways have announce they will start direct flights between Athens and New York from 24 June.

Flights will depart from Athens every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 17:30 (local time), arriving in New York JFK at 21:30 (local time). Return flights will depart from New York JFK on the same days, at 23:30 (local time), arriving in Athens at 17:00 (local time) the next day.

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British Airways launches flights between San Diego and London

British Airways launched new flights between San Diego and London Heathrow today (June 1).

As the only airline flying directly from San Diego to Europe, the new route offers greater access for Southern Californians conducting international business, as well as serving as a popular leisure destination for European holidaymakers.

Simon Talling-Smith, British Airways’ executive vice president Americas, said: “We are delighted to link these two great cities together with our renowned brand of British Airways service. London and San Diego are important destinations for business and leisure travel so it is really great news that our joint-business with American Airlines and Iberia has allowed us to launch this important route which links San Diego directly to Europe.”

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