AIRLINE NEWS

EMIRATES is to move to an all-A380 service on its Beijing and Shanghai routes from July 1. From October 29 it will introduce a second daily A380 service between Dubai and Birmingham, with flights EK39 and EK40 also being operated by the superjumbo. ETIHAD has moved to an all-A380 service on its Abu Dhabi-New York JFK route. CHINA SOUTHERN has doubled its LondonGuangzhou route to twice a day. The extra B787 flight departs Guangzhou at 0055, arriving at 0635, before returning from Heathrow at 1235, landing at 0710 the next day. JET AIRWAYS will add a third daily flight between Mumbai and London on October 29. UNITED is to fly between Los Angeles and Singapore from October 27. The daily service will be the longest nonstop flight operating to or from the US, and the world’s longest Dreamliner route, at 14,000km. Flight UA37 will depart LAX at 2055, arriving at 0650 two days later. Return leg UA38 leaves Changi airport at 1100, landing at 1015. The total flight time is almost 18 hours westbound and just over 15 hours eastbound. KLM is introducing “Anytime for you” dining, allowing World Business class passengers to choose “what and when they eat”. The concept will be launched on the AmsterdamJohannesburg service on July 1, with a second route being added in October. The new menu will show the regular three-course dinner or lunch options served during the standard meal service, plus the “anytime” range of eight hot and cold dishes, which can be ordered throughout the rest of the flight. AER LINGUS has taken delivery of its latest two-class A330-300, joining a fleet of 14 other long-haul aircraft. The delivery comes as Aer Lingus gears up for what it says will be its busiest summer on record, with 2.5 million seats to 11 North American destinations, including a new Dublin-Miami route starting in September. The carrier will increase its LA service to daily for the peak season, while services to Chicago will rise to double daily. RYANAIR has formed a partnership with Air Europa allowing travellers to connect on to long-haul services via Madrid. The Irish carrier is now allowing customers to purchase tickets for 20 of the Spanish carrier’s long-haul routes at ryanair.com, before adding the option to connect from Ryanair services on to Air Europa flights through Madrid “later this year”.