Cathay Pacific partners with the Langham on new inflight menu

Cathay Pacific has announced a collaboration with The Langham, Hong Kong hotel in launching a new inflight menu for its Hong Kong-Madrid service – the latest addition to the airline’s expansive network.

A range of authentic Spanish dishes specially designed by the hotel’s Executive Chef Pedro Samper will be available for Business Class passengers flying from Hong Kong to Madrid starting from now until 31 August 2016.

Cathay Pacific strives to create the best possible inflight dining experience for passengers by introducing new dishes through partnerships with renowned hotels and restaurants in the world. As part of the celebration for the new Madrid route, Cathay Pacific collaborates with The Langham, Hong Kong – home to five restaurants that offer a selection of award-winning international cuisines and exquisite dining service – to craft the new Spanish menu that is set to satisfy the discerning palates of the airline’s passengers.

Malaysia Airlines announces leadership changes

The Board of Directors of Malaysia Aviation Group Berhad (MAG) today announced leadership changes at Malaysia Airlines Berhad (MAB), which will see current Group Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Christoph Mueller handing over to Chief Operating Officer (COO) Peter Bellew in an accelerated leadership transition.

Mr. Mueller, who resigned on 10 March 2016 and is serving his notice period to 9 September 2016, will go on leave and step down from the MAB Board from 1 July 2016. He will be replaced by Mr. Bellew, who has been appointed the new Group MD and CEO of MAG and MAB respectively, effective 1 July 2016. Mr. Mueller will remain available to the company until the end of his notice period to help ensure a smooth leadership transition.

The leadership changes have been approved by Khazanah Nasional Berhad (Khazanah), the sole shareholder of MAG.

GCC Airports – a snapshot of the future

Wego.com, the leading travel search site in the Middle East and Asia Pacific, today reviews the incredible state of airports in the GCC, and why they’re leading the world in air passenger traffic points and growth.

“Middle Eastern carriers are setting a benchmark for the future of air travel – setting the pace for numbers of new aircraft orders, introducing new and longer flight routes, excellence of in-flight luxury and service, and some of the most lucrative and effective sponsorship campaigns in the world,” said Mamoun Hmedan, Managing Director of Wego Middle East, North Africa and India.

“Airports in the region, especially in the GCC, are maintaining the momentum with innovative designs, services and expansion plans, which mirror the pace of their growing aviation network,” Hmedan continued.

“In Dubai alone, the busiest airport in the world for international passenger traffic for the last two years, plans for further expansion to accommodate continued growing capacity stretch into the year 2020. The response to the huge growth in the Gulf is reflected by the entire travel industry, from hotels tailored to meet the needs of Middle Eastern travellers, international events and innovative mobile technology for the new online savvy user,” Hmedan said.

Star Alliance rolls out new check-in concept at Tokyo Narita airport

Star Alliance has successfully completed the rollout of a new check-in concept in the south wing at Tokyo – Narita Terminal 1, offering customers a wider choice of check-in options and giving them more control over this part of the travel process, thereby creating time savings.

To achieve this, the layout of the check-in area was changed and travellers will now find the check-in desks allocated by airline rather than class of travel, as was previously the case in Narita.

This revised layout goes hand in hand with the installation of new self-service check-in machines which, in addition to issuing boarding passes, also print baggage tags. This makes Star Alliance the first airline alliance to offer international travellers from Japan the option of self-printing and self-tagging.