Emirates adds A380 to Hong Kong route

Emirates Airline has announced plans to expand its A380 network to include flights to Hong Kong. It said it would run a daily flight to Hong Kong via Bangkok, from October 1.

This would become the airline’s 11th destination for the superjumbo. The Dubai-based carrier has 12 A380s in service with a further 78 on order.

Emirates will be the second carrier to regularly serve Hong Kong with the superjumbo, with Singapore Airlines having launched A380 services to the destination in July last year

The Middle Eastern carrier will also start flights to Manchester with the superjumbo on September 1, and will recommence A380 flights to New York on October 31.

For more information visit emirates.com.

Southwest to start San Jose-Austin nonstop flights

Southwest Airlines will add two daily nonstop flights between San Jose and Austin Nov 7, joining Alaska Airlines as carriers on a route popular as the Nerd Bird flight.

The new nonstop flights to San Jose (SJC) will depart Austin at 10:05 a.m., arriving at noon; as well as 3:55 p.m. arriving at 5:50 p.m. The return flight will leave San Jose at 10 a.m., arriving at 3:20 p.m., and at 6:20 p.m. landing at 11:40 p.m.

Alaska Airlines took over the route in 2009, after American Airlines canceled its longtime Nerd Bird flight, so called because so many of the passengers were techies flying back and forth to Silicon Valley.

Draft beer on board to be offered by ANA

Japanese airline All Nippon Airways (ANA) has announced it will be the world’s first carrier to offer draft beer in-flight. Starting July 20, beer kegs will be installed and running on domestic routes.

Beer service routes:

Tokyo Haneda – Fukuoka
Tokyo Haneda – Sapporo Chitose
Tokyo Haneda – Okinawa
Osaka Itami – Okinawa
Osaka Kansai – Okinawa
Nagoya – Okinawa
Fukuoka – Okinawa

Despite the good news for beer-lovers, only 20 cups will be available per flight. Each cup will cost 1,000 Yen (about 11 USD), comparable to the price in most Tokyo bars.

At present, airlines are prohibited from bringing high-pressure gas cylinders, used in beer dispensers, onto airplanes due to safety reasons. To make its new service possible, new beer keg technology was developed.

ANA is the second largest airline in Japan (after Japan Airlines) and operates flights to 49 domestic and 35 international routes.

Find flights to Tokyo and other cities in Japan at flightandroom.com

Frontier adds flights from Austin to Kansas City

Cubbie_n_Vegas / flickr

Frontier Airlines has announced plans to launch a daily nonstop flight from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Kansas City, MO.

The tickets for the new flights are already on sale starting at $219 round-trip. The 76-seat aircraft serving the route will include in-flight Internet service by fall.

The new flights will leave for Kansas City every day except Sundays at 8:10 a.m. arriving at 10 a.m. Return routes run every day except Saturdays in Kansas City, taking off at 6:59 p.m. and arriving at 8:54 p.m.

Currently, Continental Airlines and American Airlines offer connecting flights to Kansas City (MCI) from Austin.

Venice in June - photo gallery

Armani Hotel Dubai now open

After various delays, the world’s first Armani Hotel, designed by fashion designer Giorgio Armani, is now open for business in Dubai. The much-anticipated five star hotel is located in the iconic Burj Khalifa, best known as the world’s tallest tower.

All 160 rooms and suites in the Armani Hotel Dubai are done up with Armani Casa furnishings. The luxury hotel also boasts five restaurants, a nightclub, and an outdoor pool on the 76th floor that takes the title of the world’s highest pool.

Although this is Dubai’s newest luxury lodging option, the Armani Hotel will soon have some stiff competition as Gianni Versace plans to open a rival designer hotel in Dubai later this year. Palazzo Versace Hotel is said to boast an artificially cooled beach among other attractions for the aspirational traveller.

Planning a trip to Dubai? Start searching discount hotels now..

Worlds largest airline merger

United Airlines and Continental Airlines have announced that they are merging in a deal for nearly $3 billion making it the world’s largest airline, AP reported. The new carrier will surpass Delta Air Lines in fleet size and total number of flights served. The merger must be first approved by the shareholders and regulatory authorities. The joint airline will be called United Airlines and will be headquartered in Chicago. The annual revenue of the combined company is estimated $29 bn.

The merger will have a stabilizing effect on the air transport sector, which is recovering from the economic crisis, experts predict. Stagnation lead to reduced demand and forced air carriers to shrink their business.

The two airlines, both part of the Star Alliance, currently fly 144 million passengers a year to 370 destinations in 59 countries worldwide.

The new combine will fly in Continental's livery, carrying the United branding.