Industry Briefs

Airline Industry Information, Feb 9, 2004

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines will reportedly offer "outrageous" discounts on 62 European routes. The airline has stated that the discounts could be as much as 50% and will apply from tomorrow (10 February). The discount flights must be booked before 1 March 2004 for travel by 1 May 2005.

Continental Airlines will award a free trip to Maui in its "Check In. Chill Out. Sweepstakes." The airline's OnePass members will automatically be entered into the sweepstakes when they check in for flights online at http://www.continental.com by 31 March 2004. The grand prize includes two First Class/BusinessFirst tickets to Maui, Hawaii, plus six nights at the Westin Maui Resort, a Hertz car rental, a USD1,000 American Express TravelFunds Card, and four one-day Presidents Club passes. Other prizes include one-year membership of Continental's Presidents Club, and 5,000 OnePass bonus miles.

Delta Air Lines has launched its "Fly Now, Play Later" promotion. The promotion enables SkyMiles members to earn one free economy class round trip ticket for every qualifying round trip transatlantic BusinessElite ticket purchased and flown. SkyMiles members who travel with the airline between now and 15 April 2004 on qualifying round trips to Europe or India will earn a free round trip economy class ticket for travel almost anywhere Delta flies worldwide. Award travel is valid for flights between 1 September 2004 and 1 April 2005.

American Eagle is to begin a new service between Dallas/Fort Worth and Santa Barbara, Calif., on 4 April 2003. The carrier will operate the route with one round trip per day, using the 70-seat CRJ-700 regional jet aircraft. Tickets are available for purchase now.

Frontier Airlines' maintenance department has been awarded the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Diamond Award for the fifth consecutive year. The Diamond Award is the highest honour given by the FAA and recognises airlines and other maintenance facilities where at least 25% of the aircraft maintenance technicians complete certified training requirements beyond their initial certification.

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