Carry On: News for business travellers

Qantas flies first with iPad app
Qantas has become a launch customer for the FlySmart with Airbus cockpit applications on iPad. These Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) apps will be used by all pilots in the airline who fly Airbus aircraft.

Qantas pilots have taken part in testing and defining the best iPad EFB apps, which will allow pilots to consult all their Airbus operational manuals on iPads and be able to compute their aircraft performance calculations.

Fyfe sees wider Cathay codeshare
Air New Zealand strategic partnership with Cathay Pacific will "in time" expand beyond the Auckland-Hong Kong route to include parts of southern China and Southeast Asia, chief executive Rob Fyfe, says.

The arrangement is unusual because it involves airlines in each of the two global partnerships, Star Alliance and Oneworld. But Mr Fyfe, who was speaking to a Wall Street Journal reporter during a Star Alliance gathering in Shenzhen, China, that he was chairing,  says expanding the Cathay Pacific tie-up won't be easy.

"There are some constraints or respect we'd need to show to our alliance partners in terms of working with a member of another alliance," he says.

Development of the tie-up will take place "only in areas where we don't have a viable Star Alliance solution." These include Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam and Malaysia.

Mr Fyfe says Air New Zealand previously had a codeshare arrangement with Hong Kong Dragon Airlines, or Dragonair, before Cathay Pacific bought the China-focused airline in 2006.

"We are hopeful we could redevelop that relationship," he says.

Emirates suspends Damascus flights
Emirates has suspended its two daily flights to and from Damascus until further notice. No reason was given for the suspension but the airline said the safety of passengers and crew was its priority. But news reports say rebels are battling forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad just outside Damascus, forcing the closure of the main airport road.

Dubai-London upgrades to Boeing 777-300ER
Meanwhile, Emirates is upgrading its evening service from Glasgow to Dubai to a Boeing 777-300ER from January. The second daily service began in June this year with an Sirbus A340-300. From January 1 this flight will be upgraded to a larger B777-300ER.

Finger-lickin’ flyin’
Japan Airlines is to serve KFC meals on board selected international flights this Christmas, to satisfy the country’s hunger for the Colonel’s secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices.

KFC is hugely popular in Japan during the festive season, with many considering it a must-have meal on Christmas Eve.

The carrier will serve a two-piece Air Kentucky Fried Chicken'meal on flights from Tokyo Narita to New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, London, Paris and Frankfurt between December 1 and February 28.

The meal, only for economy and premium economy passengers, will consist of one chicken drumstick, one boneless chicken breast fillet, flat bread, lettuce leaves and a cup of coleslaw.