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Star Alliance voted "Best Airline Alliance" for the third time in a row!

Star Alliance has just been voted "Best Airline Alliance" in the World Airline Survey for the third consecutive time. The prestigious award is made every two years and the trophy for 2007 joins those the network has already won in 2005 and 2003. Conducted by specialist air transport research organisation Skytrax, more than 14 million passengers were polled during an 11-month period (August 2006 and June 2007).

"Since we are celebrating our 10th anniversary this year, this award could not be more fitting and nor could it have come at a more appropriate time", announced Jaan Albrecht, CEO of Star Alliance. "I would like to thank all the employees who deliver the Star Alliance customer promise day in and day out across the entire network, a fact which has once again been rewarded by our customers".

Star Alliance was founded in May 1997 on the vision of becoming the leading global airline alliance for the frequent international traveller. In order to achieve this, the alliance has in the past 10 years continued to work at better meeting the requirements of the international traveller.

Having grown from the original five to its current 17 member carriers, Star Alliance presently offers the most comprehensive network of any airline alliance, serving 855 destinations in 155 countries. This will be further expanded with the arrival of Air China and Shanghai Airlines as members by the end of 2007 and Turkish Airlines in 2008.

Winning this award strengthens Star Alliance's commitment in further improving the travel experience for customers. For example, Star Alliance was the first alliance to offer customers the possibility to redeem miles earned in one member carriers. frequent flyer programmes to upgrade by one class on another member carrier . this product is now available on 11 member carriers and will be extended during the course of the year. With regard to airport facilities, the Star Alliance Terminal at Narita Terminal 1 in Tokyo has now been operational for more than one year and has received very positive feedback from customers. The new Bangkok airport has also improved the customer experience at this important Star Alliance hub in Asia, while the first Star Alliance lounge in North America which recently opened in Los Angeles also offers travellers a better facility.

In addition to Star Alliance, the following member carriers picked up awards in individual categories: Air Canada, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, SWISS and THAI. For full details please see: www.worldairlineawards.com

SAS introduces a new service to Oslo from London City Airport

Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) will begin operating a new direct double daily service from London City Airport to the Norwegian capital of Oslo from 28 August 2007.

Coming in addition to the double daily service from London City Airport to Stockholm and three daily services to Copenhagen, the new service allows the airline to offer flights to all the Scandinavian capital cities.

The unique one way fare structure, which means customers can mix and match the airports they travel from, flying out of London City and returning via Heathrow if that is more convenient, will apply to the new service.

As with all flights, travellers on the new service will also have the choice of in business, economy or SAS.s unique premium economy cabin, Economy Extra.

Economy Extra provides SAS customers with an efficient service that includes business class check in facilities and fully flexible fares with no restrictions. Economy Extra passengers are seated in a dedicated area between the business and economy sections, they receive a complimentary meal with drinks and can earn extra frequent flyer points.

Fares start from £58 one way. For more information, visit www.sassalesinfo.com or phone the sales team on 0870 60 727 727.

Business Class passengers enjoy award-winning service with Austrian

Comfort and quality cuisine are pre-requisites for long-haul travel - and on routes to India, China, Japan and Thailand, passengers flying with Austrian always enjoy both.

In recognition of Austrian.s exceptional service, readers of 'Capital' magazine, in the discerning German market, have just voted Austrian 'Best European Airline', and a recent Skytrax survey among 14 million travellers from 90 countries judged Austrian's Business Class catering the very best.

The Skytrax award was based on the period from June 2006 - June 2007, and since then the airline has upgraded in-flight catering further, introducing fabulous six course gourmet menus with a choice of Western and regional specialities personally finished by the on-board .Flying Chef.. To make the service extra special, passengers are also offered the unique Viennese Coffee House service with a menu that.s as rich and sophisticated as traditional Viennese coffee houses.

As well as first class cuisine, travellers flying Business Class to Bangkok, Delhi, Mumbai, Beijing and Tokyo will experience new cabins complete with lie-flat, sleeper seats. When fully extended, there is almost two metres of personal space with a range of positions to convert from bed to work space to entertainment zone to gourmet table above the clouds.

To enable even more travellers to take advantage of Austrian's services, the airline is introducing a new route to Kazakhstan; flights to Astana will commence 4 September 2007 with departures three times per week.

WIN flights to New Zealand, Hong Kong and Los Angeles with Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand are celebrating 25 years flying London - Auckland, 1982 - 2007. To celebrate this exciting silver anniversary, they are offering all UK Travel Agents the chance to win two return Pacific Economy tickets to New Zealand, Los Angeles or Hong Kong. All you have to do is get to fly-nz.com by midnight 11 September 2007 enter your details to be in to win! Its as easy as that. See fly-nz.com for full terms and conditions.

Since the first Air New Zealand UK-bound flight left Auckland on 25 August 1982, we're proud to have flown. 2.4million passengers on over 12,000 journeys covering 143.8 million miles.

Dennis Eveleigh, who was a crew member on the first flight that left Auckland, and stopped in Papeete and Los Angeles before landing at London Gatwick, and is still serving today, recalls, "The first flight was a momentous occasion, with a huge send off from Auckland and equally memorable welcome in London. The Nga Tapuwae choir saw the flight off and we were met by Maori concert parties at both Los Angeles and London. Passengers were treated to kiwis, cake and floral leis during the flight and we even landed 3 minutes early - a good omen for the next 25 years!"

The airline's successful ascent from newcomer to the leading carrier to New Zealand out of the UK has been an eventful journey. Most recently, Air New Zealand added a second daily flight out of the UK in October 2006, travelling East via Hong Kong - making it the only airline to circumnavigate the globe from London.

25 years on and Air New Zealand continues to offer a uniquely refreshing experience in the air, offering state-of-the-art personal on-demand entertainment, chef inspired cuisine, award-winning New Zealand wines and industry-leading levels of comfort and space - no matter what class of travel your clients choose to fly.

bmi enhances it services to the Middle East

bmi, Heathrow's second largest carrier, has announced that it will serve a new destination as well as introduce major enhancements to its network of services from Heathrow with effect from 28 October this year.

The airline is to launch daily flights from London to the Egyptian capital of Cairo. Airbus A320 aircraft will operate the new competitive service in a two-class business and economy configuration.

Nigel Turner, bmi chief executive officer explained: 'The introduction of new competition onto routes has historically invigorated markets and we expect our new competitive service from Heathrow to the Egyptian capital of Cairo to appeal to both leisure and business travellers alike. It is also extremely pleasing that our service to Cairo will be operated in cooperation with EgyptAir. This will enable each of us to benefit from our strengths in our respective home markets to promote and sell seats on each others' services'.

Flight schedule from Sunday 28 October 2007.

*Heathrow - Cairo flights are on sale via your GDS now.

In addition to this new route, major enhancements for travellers will be phased in to other destinations newly served by bmi to coincide with the start of the winter timetable on 28 October. The Jordanian capital of Amman and the Lebanese capital of Beirut each benefit with an increase in direct frequency, with daily services now available to both locations. Amman and Beirut flights are not yet available on your GDS; booking dates will be announced within the next few weeks.