Industry Briefs

Airline Industry Information, April 24, 2003

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2003 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Virgin Atlantic Airways will continue its services to Hong Kong despite the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Regional airlines Cathay Pacific, Qantas Airways, Thai Airways and Singapore Airlines have all cut capacity due to the outbreak of SARS, however Virgin Atlantic's owner Richard Branson has decided to continue the services.

Two Malaysian Airlines (MAS) flight attendants are being questioned in connection with an attempt to smuggle fake credit cards. Japanese police are trying to ascertain if the two are linked to the arrests of two MAS flight attendants in February 2003 in which 3,000 fake credit cards were seized at Tokyo's Narita International Airport.

Beijing Capital International Airport Co has revealed a decline in its passenger traffic due to the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The company has stated that its total passenger traffic shrank by 20.7% year-on-year between 1 and 20 April 2003. The number of international passengers fell by nearly 45%, while domestic passengers were reduced by 12.1%.

Asiana Airlines and Bank of America have introduced the Asiana Visa Card, which enables users to accumulate miles when they make purchases with the card. Customers will earn one mile for every dollar spent on purchases, while Classic cardholders will receive 3,000 bonus miles and Platinum cardholders 5,000 bonus miles for their first purchase. Those customers who open new accounts by 30 June 2003 will receive additional bonus miles.

US Airways has introduced a sale covering summer travel, with tickets priced from USD57 each way based on a round trip purchase. Tickets for most destinations must be purchased by 2 May 2003, for travel throughout the summer period. The airline is also offering low fares for spring travel. Further information is available at http://www.usairways.com.

Finnair will reduce its services to Beijing, China following a travel advisory against unnecessary travel to the area due to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The airline will reduce the number of flights between Beijing and Helsinki from 32 to 25 during May, but plans to restore the flights in August.

Delta Air Lines' customers at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport can now experience significantly reduced airport wait times, according to the airline. Delta has introduced several improvements including new proactive airport customer service roles, added self-service technology and airport lobby redesign in order to reduce the time spent at the airport. The airline is also making similar changes at its 81 airports throughout its system.

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