December 2011

AA files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

American Airlines has become the last of the major international US carriers to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, assuring customers that normal flight schedules will be maintained and all tickets honoured.  On 29 November, holding company AMR Corporation advised that in order to achieve a cost and debt structure that is industry competitive and thereby assure its long-term viability, the Company and certain of its US-based subsidiaries (including American and American Eagle), filed voluntary petitions for Chapter 11 reorganisation in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.  American Airlines and American Eagle will continue to operate normal flight schedules and advised that all other operations will conduct business as usual.

Mandarin Oriental Paris opens suites

Mandarin Oriental Paris has opened its 39 suites, which include seven duplex suites located on the seventh and eighth floors.  Each suite features private terraces with striking view of the city's landmarks.  French interior designer Sybille de Margerie has designed each suite in a quintessential Parisian, haute-couture style with elegant tones and Oriental influences. 

Cathay Pacific and fellow oneworld alliance member Japan Airlines have expanded their codeshare service.  As part of a new arrangement, Cathay Pacific’s code will be placed on JAL's domestic flights between Tokyo's Haneda Airport to eight Japanese cities: Izumo, Miyazaki, Misawa, Maysuyama, Nagasaki, Oita, Tokushima and Ube.  This enhanced codeshare agreement will provide more convenience for passengers travelling between Hong Kong and Japan. Passengers can now connect to a total of 20 destinations in Japan.

London’s Gatwick Airport Expansion

The £73 million extension to London Gatwick Airport’s North Terminal was officially opened in November 2011.  The terminal building has been extended by 1.25 hectares with 18 more check-in desks being installed, including self-service kiosks and new baggage reclaim facilities.  The new features include a multi-storey car park providing 1,177 new short-stay parking spaces, improvement to the inter-terminal monorail, a new interchange facility at the North Terminal and improvements to the security area, which now includes dedicated lanes for premium travellers, families and disabled passengers.

United Continental Holdings has launched the first scheduled nonstop flights between Texas and Africa, with a daily service from Houston to Lagos. The group had originally planned to launch the route with its new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft but delivery delays mean flights are currently being operated by Continental’s B777 aircraft, configured for 50 Business First and 226 economy seats.  Flights depart Houston daily at 1905, arriving in Lagos at 1340 the following day, with the return leg leaving the Nigerian city at 2305 and landing back in the US at 0525 the following day.