AIRLINE NEWS

ETIHAD AIRWAYS will next year launch its first service to Scotland with a nonstop daily flight between Abu Dhabi and Edinburgh. The new route is scheduled to start on June 8 and will be operated by a two-class A330-200 aircraft. GUERNSEY’S AURIGNY will commence a twice-daily weekday service between the Channel Island and London City airport on September 8. Operated by a leased Fokker 50 turboprop, flights depart Guernsey at 0730 and 1700 to arrive into LCY at 0845 and 1815, and depart London at 0915 and 1845, landing at 1030 and 2000.

BRITISH AIRWAYS will start its A380 service between London Heathrow and Washington Dulles next month. From October 2-25, it will operate the superjumbo five-times weekly, before moving to daily flights from October 26. AIR INDIA has become the 27th member of Star Alliance, adding 400 daily flights and more than 40 new destinations in India to the alliance network. SWISS has launched new inflight services including allocated seating. “Swiss Choice” gives passengers the options of reserving a seat in advance for a fee, arranging an “in-flight treat” for themselves or a companion, or preordering in-flight duty-free items. EMIRATES has started a daily service from Dubai to the Nigerian capital of Abuja, using a three-class A340-300. AIR FRANCE will roster an A380 on to its daily Paris to Miami route from December 1 to March 28. Flight AF090 departs Paris at 1350, landing at 1805. The return, AF099, leaves Miami at 2055, landing at 1120 the next day. AIR CHINA will launch a second daily Beijing-Heathrow service next month. From October 26, the airline will roster an A330 on both flights, replacing its B777300ER. As a result, there will no longer be a first class cabin on the route. AIR NEW ZEALAND has debuted its B787-9 Dreamliner on the Auckland to Sydney route. The aircraft replaces the B767 and A320. LUFTHANSA will operate its daily link between Frankfurt and Tokyo Haneda with a B747-800 aircraft from October 26.