A closer look at London..

Big Ben

The London Eye

London City

Hyde Park

Which will be the world’s largest airline?

Delta Air Lines Inc. and Northwest Airlines Corp. reached agreement on a merger deal yesterday that, if approved by regulators, would create the world's largest airline. The combined airline will be headquartered in Atlanta, GA and will retain the Delta name. The merged carrier will have nearly $18 billion enterprise value, and will be run by Delta CEO Richard Anderson. Combined, the new company will serve more than 390 destinations in 67 countries, operating a fleet of nearly 800 aircraft and employ approximately 75,000 people worldwide.

According to Delta, customers will benefit from the combined carrier’s financial stability, as well as the opportunity to fly to more destinations, have more schedule options and more opportunities to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles.

The merger is subject to the approval of Delta and Northwest shareholders and antitrust regulatory approvals. It is expected that the regulatory review period will be completed later this year.

Hawaii Superferry to resume service

Hawaii Superferry has announced it will resume service between Oahu and Maui starting Monday, April 7. The interisland ferry has been out of service since February 13 for repairs and maintenance. It was scheduled to be in dry dock until April 22, but its return was urged after Aloha Airlines halting all passenger service due to bankruptcy.

Hawaii Superferry said it will be taking reservations for the Kahului, Maui service with special fares available through June 5.

Hawaii Superferry’s single ship, the “Alakai”, is capable of transporting up to 866 passengers and 282 subcompact cars. The 349-foot catamaran features floor-to-ceiling windows offering panoramic views, sofas and family seating, and flat-screen TVs and video games.

The company plans to double its fleet with a second identical ship, scheduled for completion in 2009.

Emirates introduces in-flight mobile phone service

Emirates Airline has announced that it has launched in-flight mobile phone service, making it the first commercial airline to allow mobile phone usage while in flight. The service was introduced on a flight between Dubai and Casablanca in Morocco on March 20 onboard an Airbus A340-300 aircraft.

The plane is the first in the airline's fleet to be fitted with the AeroMobile system, a communications solution designed to prevent mobile phones from interfering with the aircraft’s electronics.

The service will only be activated when the aircraft is at cruising altitude and the cabin crew will be able to control the use of the system. The crew will be able to prevent voice calls at certain times, for example during night flights.

Passengers will be able to send and receive text messages and will be requested to keep the ringer on their handsets set to “silent”.

The airline said that it plans to extend the AeroMobile system to more aircraft and later this year will add BlackBerry and other data services.

Emirates is currently one of the fastest growing airlines in world, serving over 100 global destinations with a fleet of 113 aircraft.

Singapore Airlines to offer all-business class flights from US

Singapore Airlines (SIA) is to offer all-business class seating on its non-stop flights to Singapore from New York and Los Angeles, starting mid-May.

Under the new configuration, the airline will replace the existing two-class, 181-seat layout on its five Airbus A340-500 planes with 100 business class seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. Every seat will have direct access to the aisle, and will convert into a fully flat bed. The new business class seats are the same design as those fitted on the carrier’s Airbus A380, the world's biggest passenger plane.

SIA said the decision to remove economy seats and offer only business class for the direct flights between Singapore and the two US cities is aimed at catering to strong demand from its premium travellers.

On March 20, Singapore Airlines will add a new US destination to its international route network with a four-times-weekly flight to Houston from Singapore, via Moscow.

Top 7 US short city break destinations

Las Vegas, Nevada
The fun never ends in Las Vegas. The city is today the largest playground for grown-ups and one of the top tourist destinations in the U.S. To start with, take a stroll along the Strip and see some of the world's most famous hotels & casinos. Visit The Venetian and take a gondola ride through the streets of Venice. Enjoy lunch in a 50-storey replica of the Eiffel Tower. Make sure to see the fountains at Bellagio, where water dances and shoots high into the sky. Enjoy the art at the Guggenheim Hermitage Museum or take in a show at Cirque du Soleil. If shopping is your thing, head to the Fashion Show Mall with its 7 anchor stores and 250 retail stores and restaurants.

Orlando, Florida
Orlando has developed a cool reputation over the years as the ultimate family destination. Famous for its amusement parks, Orlando welcomes millions of visitors each year. Just south of the city lies Disney World, the world's largest theme park; plus Universal Resort, themed to the Hollywood super-productions; and SeaWorld Orlando with its aquarium and dolphin shows alongside a water park. There's modern art at the Orlando Museum of Art and interactive exhibits at the Orlando Science Center. For shopping, try the immense Florida Mall.

New York City
Each year the "Big Apple" welcomes over 35 million visitors, drawn by its legendary skyscrapers, renowned museums, and incredible shopping. Must-sees in this 12-million metropolis include Times Square, Fifth Avenue and Rockefeller Center, Empire State Building, and the famous Statue of Liberty. Get some fresh air at Central Park. See art and waxwork at the Metropolitan & Madame Tussauds or catch a show on Broadway. Then immerse yourself in the city's vibrant nightlife with its first class restaurants, nightclubs and entertainment of all kinds, plus thousands of stores and boutiques that make New York a shopping wonderland.

Los Angeles, California
LA and its immediate vicinity are internationally recognized as the "entertainment capital of the world." Important landmarks include the Los Angeles City Hall, El Pueblo State Historic Park, Farmers Market, Chinatown and Little Tokyo. Stroll along Hollywood Boulevard to see the famous sidewalks decorated with stars of celebrities. Take a glimpse at active backlots and enjoy stunt demonstrations and high-tech rides at the Universal Studios theme park. Disney Land, the original family-oriented fantasy park is located in nearby Anaheim. The most beautiful beaches of Los Angeles can be found in Malibu.

San Francisco, California
The city is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the US, renowned for its steep rolling hills and eclectic mix of Victorian and modern architecture. Famous landmarks include the legendary Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, the cable cars, and Chinatown. Stroll across the Golden Gate Park, including the California Academy of Sciences, the Asian Art Museum and the Japanese Tea Garden. With top-brand retailers, restaurants, and personal services, Embarcadero Center offers the very best in San Francisco shopping, dining and entertainment.

Washington D.C.
The capital of the USA has the architectural beauty of a well-planned city filled with magnificent monuments, governmental buildings and parks. Its main points of interest are situated in the National Mall - between the Lincoln Memorial and the Capitol. The city has some of the finest museums in the country, including the vast complex of Smithsonian Institution museums - most of them absolutely free to the visitor. There's a collection of masterpieces at the National Gallery of Art, Auguste Rodin's sculptures at the Hirshhorn Museum, and exotic animals at the National Zoo.

Seattle, Washington
Famous as the home of the grunge music, today the city is one of the most visited tourist destinations on the West Coast. A good place to start with is the Space Needle - Seattle's most recognizable landmark. Buy some sea food at the Pike Place Market and have some coffee at the world's first Starbucks store. Enjoy concert at the Benaroya Hall, or watch a performance at the Seattle Opera. For shopping, try the four-storey Westlake Center. Fishing, rafting and mountain climbing are all within a short drive from downtown.

If short break travel is your thing, visit Flihgtandroom and book domestic flights and hotels to U.S. most popular cities.

World’s largest airport terminal to be inaugurated in Beijing

Beijing's new international airport terminal, which will open for trial operations on February 29, will be the largest and most advanced airport building in the world. The $3.5 billion project was designed by UK architects Foster & Partners and was completed in just four years.

Terminal 3 has a dragon-like form with a soaring aerodynamic roof and evokes traditional Chinese colors and symbols. It features a main passenger terminal, two satellite concourses, and five floors above ground and two underground. The total area of the complex is 1.3 million sq. meters, including the terminal building and the transportation centre.

T3 will be fully operational on March 26 and will be the gateway to the city as it welcomes athletes from around the world to the twenty-ninth Olympiad in 2008.