Industry Briefs

Airline Industry Information, March 4, 2002

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2002 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

The Dubai-based airline Emirates has signed a memorandum of understanding with the GE-P&W Engine Alliance for the GP7000 engine family to power its 22 firm and 10 option Airbus A380-800 aircraft. The airline's chairman signed the agreement to buy the engines, which have a list price of approximately USD1.5bn. Negotiations are now taking place between Emirates and the Engine Alliance to finalise the order.

Ansett Airlines will operate its final flight today (4 March) after 66 years of service. The final flight is scheduled to take off from Perth at 2345 local time bound for Sydney. Hopes to salvage the carrier fell through last week when would-be buyers, Melbourne businessmen Lindsay Fox and Solomon Lew, pulled out of the deal to purchase the airline after months of negotiations.

Northwest Airlines has launched a spring fare sale, which offers customers additional savings on top of its Every Day Deals fare structure. The fare sale applies to spring travel in all of the airline's markets within the 48 contiguous United States, and between the 48 US and Canada. Customers can receive a discount of up to 55% for tickets purchased before 22 March 2002, for travel between 1 April and 6 June 2002. For requirements and further details visit http://www.nwa.com.

Thai Airways International is planning to increase the special privileges and service available to its Royal Orchid Plus cardholders. The airline has signed a four-year deal with Hilton International, which allows the cardholders to accumulate travel miles and receive discounts on room rates of up to 40% at Hilton's 2,100 hotels worldwide. Cardholders can also receive miles via 37 service operators which have linked up with the airline.

Southwest Airlines has launched a spring fare sale. The fares range from USD39 to USD99 each way on off-peak days and from USD44 to USD129 each way on the busier peak days. All fares are on sale through 18 March 2002 and travel must be completed between 8 March and 3 August 2002. The fares require a round trip purchase with an overnight stay and tickets must be purchased at least seven days before departure and within one day of making reservations.

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