AIRLINE NEWS

NORWEGIAN will launch nonstop flights between Gatwick and Singapore Changi on September 28. The service will fly four-times weekly, increasing to five during the winter season, using a 344-seat, two-class B787-9 Dreamliner. Fares start from £180 each way in economy class and £700 for the premium cabin. ETIHAD’S twice-daily Abu DhabiSydney route will become an all-A380 service from October 29. The superjumbo will be removed from its Melbourne route on the same day. EMIRATES is to drop one of its three daily services between Birmingham and Dubai. Flights EK041 (departing Dubai at 0320) and EK042 (leaving Birmingham at 0940) will be suspended from September 1. The carrier will add a third daily flight to its Brisbane route on December 1. BRITISH AIRWAYS has confirmed pricing for its long-haul wifi service, which is initially being rolled out on its B747s. One aircraft has so far been equipped, with a second to follow next month. Two speeds are available: Simply Connect for basic browsing and the faster Connect Plus. One hour’s access costs £4.99 (Simply Connect) or £7.99 (Connect Plus), four hours is £10.99 or £17.99, and the whole flight is £14.99 or £23.99. AIR FRANCE has rostered the B787-9 on to its first transatlantic route, Paris CDG-Montréal, following the delivery of its second Dreamliner. The aircraft now operates flight AF344, departing Paris at 1335 and arriving at 1455, and AF345, departing Montréal at 1650 and landing at 0530 the following day. PHILIPPINE AIRLINES will upgrade its Heathrow-Manila route to a B777-300ER service when it receives delivery of its ninth and tenth B777s in December, replacing two A340-300s.