Carriers reduce fuel surcharges

Several Star Alliance carriers have reduced their fuel surcharges to reflect the reduction in fuel costs. ANA hopes to get government approval to lower its fuel surcharge on international flights from January 1 to March 31. The fuel surcharge will drop to between 2,500 Yen and 22,000 Yen, depending on the route.

Air New Zealand: Sustainable Biofuel Test Flight Update

The world's first commercial aviation flight powered by a sustainable second-generation biofuel moved closer this week.

ANA and Asiana to plant trees in Japan

ANA and Asiana will plant 500 Japanese black pine trees near Yonago airport in southern central Japan on Nov. 9, as part of a combined environmental effort to reforest a wooded area devastated by the mountain pine beetle.

Volunteers from ANA and Asiana will take part, as will 200 volunteers from schools and community associations.

Spanair helps stranded passengers

Spanair is helping stranded Sterling Airlines passengers, where it has the space to do so. Sterling passengers are being offered empty seats today and Thursday on Spanair flights provided they hold valid tickets. However, Spanair points out that flights from Spain to Scandinavia are very tight.

Spanair is using its largest aircraft, an Airbus 321, on all routes to Scandinavia to help Sterling passengers who are abroad and have no possibility to return home on their original flights.

SWISS lowers fuel surcharge

SWISS is reducing its fuel surcharges in view of the decline in the prices of crude oil and jet fuel over the last few weeks, and despite the fact that average fuel prices for 2008 are still substantially above their levels of a year ago.

Update: brand campaign videos now online

With the theme “You’ve earned it”, Star Alliance has launched a brand campaign aimed at increasing awareness and familiarity of the alliance’s customer benefits, with a special emphasis on the value of global recognition for the frequent international traveller.

The campaign is supported by a series of short documentaries where budding entrepreneurs interview global business leaders on the art of doing business better, especially in emerging markets, and how these business leaders have taken their businesses from local to international.

New common bag facility opens at London Heathrow

A new Star Alliance baggage facility opened in London Terminal 1 in the baggage claim area at the end of September. The first phase has Air New Zealand, Asiana, bmi, LOT and United sharing the facility.

The second phase, schedule for the second quarter of next year will see an additional offices built for United and Air New Zealand. The majority of the T2 Star Alliance carries will then move to T1 and join the facility.

TAM Airlines to join Star Alliance

This week, the CEOs of Star Alliance unanimously agreed to accept TAM Airlines of Brazil into the alliance.

Choosing TAM was not by chance. Horst Findeisen, Vice-President, Business Development at Star Alliance always has the big picture in mind. “We look at the world, identify important traffic flows and see if we have enough coverage or not.” The current 950 Star Alliance destinations is an impressive number, yet there are regions where member carriers fly but have no further connectivity in the region. “If we are under- represented in a country or region, then we call this a white spot on our world map.” One of these is Latin America.

THAI boosts Tourism to Thailand

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) will team up with the Tourism Authority Thailand (TAT) to hold 'Mega Familiarization' trips and events for over 800 media and travel agents from around the world next week.

ANA revises delivery schedule for Dreamliner

ANA and Boeing have agreed on a new delivery schedule for the delayed 787. ANA is the launch customer for the aircraft. While waiting for the first delivery, It will introduce nine 767-300ER aircraft to cover its interim lift needs.

ANA has retained its orders for 50 of the new aircraft, with first delivery now scheduled for August of next year. The carrier will receive six of the new aircraft each year until 2017. ANA will introduce the 767s in 2010 to cover projected capacity needs. It will also revise the retirement schedule of its present fleet and its maintenance schedule.