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Qantas to resume Buenos Aires route and up Los Angeles frequencies
Qantas is to resume its own services to Buenos Aires after a six-year break, with an initial three Boeing 747-400s a week from its Sydney base from 24 November. They will be the airline's first non-stops between Australia and South America. Qantas has continued to serve Buenos Aires through a code-share with oneworld partner LAN, and affiliate LAN Argentina plans to code-share on the new non-stop route.
oneworld's Australian partner is also increasing Los Angeles frequencies by three a week from the end of this month - with two more round trips from Brisbane, taking the schedule on this route to daily, and one from Sydney, increasing its timetable on this route to 17 a week. The Australian airline also serves LAX twice daily from Melbourne. Qantas is also upping frequencies between Sydney and Honolulu from 5 April with the addition of a fourth flight each week.
News: New Qantas First Lounges the Best in the World
Qantas First class customers will be treated to a range of luxuries from chair-side waiter service to complimentary spa treatments when the airline's new First lounges in Sydney and Melbourne open later this month. The new flagship lounges, which open on 23 May, have been designed by internationally renowned Australian industrial designer Marc Newson.
Qantas Executive General Manager John Borghetti has described them as "simply the best in the world". "The services offered in our new lounges will be equal to those found in the world's best five star hotels and restaurants. For example a full concierge service will help customers book a restaurant in any city around the world or get tickets to the latest Broadway musical," Mr Borghetti said. "Nearly everything has been designed by Marc specifically for the lounges and manufactured by leading international craftsman. "Even the music has been specially created to complement the atmosphere and function of each area of the lounge."
Features of the Sydney lounge include:
- huge American oak sculptures that separate the lounge space into defined areas;
- a Payot Paris day spa offering a range of complimentary treatments from a 30-minute express energising facial to a 50-minute full body massage;
- a 48-seat open kitchen restaurant with menus by Neil Perry;
- chair-side waiter service throughout the lounge;
- a library stocked with a selection of newspapers and magazines, best-selling books and board games including chess and backgammon;
- a dedicated entertainment zone with banks of plasma screens showing local and international news, sport and weather, and Sony Playstation 3 and Playstation Portable entertainment systems offering a selection of games and movies;
- a vertical garden designed by international botanist Patrick Blanc featuring over 8,400 individual plants;
- luxurious individual marble-lined shower suites with individual stereo volume and lighting controls, radiant heating to reduce condensation on the mirrors, and luggage racks;
- exclusive furniture and luxurious finishes including leather lounge chairs, recliners, and sofas by Italy's Poltrona Frau, dining chairs and tables by Cappellini, Tai Ping wool carpets from Hong Kong, marble from Carrara and quartzite from Switzerland; and
- state-of-the-art business facilities with 11 PC workstations, complimentary wireless internet access, power and data points throughout the lounge and two private work suites with conference facilities and plasma display screens.
"Lounges are an important point of differentiation for long haul international travellers, which is why we have drawn on the knowledge of world leading experts and brands to deliver the most luxurious atmosphere for our customers. "The lounges will be managed by luxury hotel group Sofitel with all staff undergoing specialist training through its Acadamie Accor hotel school. "At the same time we are launching a new premium check-in service at Sydney and Melbourne international terminals, with First customers checked in prior to arriving at the airport and greeted at the kerb by a Qantas First Host and porter," Mr Borghetti said. "These initiatives are part of a progressive luxury product upgrade being rolled out in anticipation of the airline's Airbus A380 fleet being delivered from 2008."
The First Lounge is located on level four of the Sydney International Terminal and was designed to comply with both Flying Star Feng Shui and classic Feng Shui elements.
Qantas to open second route to Shanghai, from Melbourne
Qantas is to open a second route to Shanghai, while upping Los Angeles and South African frequencies. It will serve the Mainland China commercial centre from Melbourne with two Airbus A330s a week from March, while upping freuqneices from Sydney to five a week from August. Its additional Los Angeles services will include another two weeklies from Brisbane, taking the schedule to daily, and one more a week from Sydney, both from March. To South Africa, it will add a sixth weekly flight from November 2008.
Qantas opens new First Class lounges at its Sydney and Melbourne hubs
Qantas has opened new lounges and check-in processes for its First class at Sydney and Melbourne, which it describes as "simply the best in the world", with services equal to those found in the world's best five star hotels and restaurants.
Its new premium check-in service at the two airports enables First class customers to check-in before arriving at the terminal and be greeted at the kerb by a Qantas agent and porter.
The new flagship lounges, designed by internationally renowned Australian industrial designer Marc Newson, can be used by frequent flyers from any oneworld member airline with an Emerald tier equivalent membership card: It features a 48-seat open kitchen restaurant with menus by top Sydney chef Neil Perry, a chair-side waiter service throughout the lounge and a full concierge service, helping customers book a restaurant in any city around the world or get tickets to the latest Broadway musical,
Qantas launches Premium Economy Cabin
Qantas today revealed the new Qantas Premium Economy Class cabin and seating to be offered progressively on its international Boeing 747-400 aircraft from February 2008 and on its fleet of new A380 being delivered from August 2008. Qantas Executive General Manager John Borghetti said the airline's Premium Economy cabin would appeal to Economy travellers seeking more space, comfort and an enhanced level of service. "The Premium Economy seat was designed by Marc Newson - the designer of our award winning Skybed sleeper seat - and manufactured by Recaro, which makes seats for luxury auto brands such as Aston Martin, Audi and Porsche," Mr Borghetti said. "The seats offer extra width and recline, more legroom, and an in-arm digital wide screen television monitor, as well as laptop power connection. "Premium Economy will also include a self-service bar offering a selection of refreshments throughout the flight, in addition to the regular choice of meals designed by Neil Perry's Rockpool Group, premium wines, superior tableware and soft furnishings."
Mr Borghetti said other key features of Premium Economy included:
- the world's best Premium Economy recline and leg room - nine inch seat recline and up to 42 inch seat pitch;
- extra wide, 19.5 inch seat width;
- ergonomic cushioning;
- larger, in-arm touch screen video monitor;
- multiport jack with USB (A380 only) and RJ45 ports;
- a six-way adjustable headrest;
- an integrated leg rest with fold-out footrest; and
- a wide centre console with a fixed cocktail table and in-arm meal table.
"Premium Economy customers will also have a dedicated check-in area," Mr Borghetti said. He said the Premium Economy cabin would be available gradually on B747 services to London, Hong Kong and Johannesburg from February 2008 with further routes being added following the introduction of A380 aircraft. Premium Economy will be located on the main deck of B747 aircraft with 32 seats in a two-four-two configuration. On the A380, the cabin will be located on the upper deck with 32 seats in a two-three-two configuration.
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