Industry Briefs

Airline Industry Information, Sept 30, 2003

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

German carrier Cirrus Airlines has reportedly placed an order with aircraft manufacturer Embraer for an Embraer 170 aircraft. The order also includes an option for another unit of the same type, with delivery of the first aircraft scheduled in December 2004. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Myanmar Airways has set up a joint venture to run passenger and cargo flights with three private companies. The private partners involved in the venture are Myanmar's Dawn Light company, France-based Cathay Aviation Ltd, and Singapore's Fast Growth Associates Ltd. The airline will operate cargo flights to Beijing, Dhaka, Dubai and New Delhi, and hopes to fly passenger routes to Australia, Europe and throughout East Asia.

American Airlines is offering special discount fares to members of the US military who are returning home from duty for relaxation and rest. The special fares are available to active US military personnel for travel between Baltimore/Washington International Airport and cities throughout the US, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands. The fares cover travel with American Airlines, American Eagle and AmericanConnection, and do not require an advance purchase.

Air Mauritius and New Straits Times e-Media have launched a competition enabling participants to win an iKoMo handphone. The contest is open to TMTouch, Maxis, Celcom and Digi subscribers who can participate by sending an SMS with the word "MAURITIUS" to 32788 by 14 October 2003. Three first prize winners will each receive a iKoMo iK101 model. Other prizes include return tickets to Mauritius with three nights at the Berjaya Le Morne Beach Resort & Casino and a pair of "Onxy" sunglasses, two days' use of a Nissan X-Trail from Mayflower Car Rental with a pair of "Onxy" sunglasses, and six pairs of "Onxy" sunglasses.

A Nevada man, known as Rich "The Locust" LeFevre, won a pair of round trip tickets on Southwest Airlines for winning the first World Corny Dog Eating Championship at the State Fair of Texas. The man managed to eat a dozen corn dogs in just ten minutes, beating 15 other contestants and setting the world's first corn-dog-eating record according to the International Federation of Competitive Eating. The man - best known for eating one-and-a-half gallons of chili in ten minutes - also won USD500.

Malaysian carrier AirAsia is offering 5,000 seats at MYR39.90 each for a one-way trip between Alor Star and Kuala Lumpur. To qualify for the special deal, travellers must book and pay for their seats seven days in advance of their intended flight date, with bookings being made at the AirAsia sales station at Sultan Abdul Halim Airport in Kepala Batas, Alor Star. All travel must be completed within October, and the tickets are based on a first-come, first-served basis. AirAsia will also give away 500 "GO Holiday luggage tags" to passengers booking seats in the sale.

US Airways has introduced special discount fares for military personnel returning to the US from the Middle East for rest and relaxation. The discount fares are available to soldiers for travel from Baltimore/Washington International Airport to destinations throughout the US. All travel must be completed by 15 September 2004. The fares do not require an advance purchase or minimum stay, and are fully refundable. Military ID must be presented when the ticket is purchased.

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