Carry On: News for business travellers

Jetstar clocks up five million passengers
In less than four years’ operation, Jetstar has carried its five millionth domestic customers. The first domestic flight from Auckland to Wellington took off in June 2009 and the airline has since tallied over 35,000 flights on its five domestic destinations of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Queenstown. Jetstar says nearly one million seats sold for for $50 or less. The airline’s fleet has increased to nine aircraft, which make more than 140 scheduled return flights a week.

Dubai opens new airport in October
Dubai's new airport, which started cargo operations in 2010, will open its long-delayed passenger terminal on October 27 with two budget airlines launching services there. Dubai World Central is some 50km from Dubai International Airport. The first two airlines at DWC will be European low-cost carrier Wizz Air and Saudi Arabia's Nasair. DWC is designed eventually to cater for 160 million passengers, which would make it the world's largest airport on completion.

BA orders more Dreamliners
British Airways has ordered another 18 Dreamliners despite all 50 in service still being grounded due to problems with its lithium-ion batteries. BA’s owner IAG says it’s converted 18 options for Boeing 787s into firm orders that will be used to replace the Boeing 747-400 fleet between 2017 and 2021. The new order is on top of an existing agreement for BA to buy 24 Dreamliners – the first of which is due to be delivered in the next few weeks. Boeing plans to hold test flights to test a new design for the battery “in the coming days”.

Virgin seeks Air France-KLM-Alitalia tie-up
Virgin Atlantic wants to hold negotiations with Air France KLM and Alitalia on potential joint ventures. Sir Richard Branson’s airline is already planning a transatlantic joint venture with Delta Airlines and could also look to add more routes to Asia, Africa and the Middle East through further tie-ups with Air France KLM and Alitalia. All three European airlines – as well as Delta – are members of Skyteam. Virgin says it will also assess whether it should join the alliance. Air France KLM and Delta have agreed to buy Singapore Airlines’ 49% stake in Virgin Atlantic. 

Russia sells more regional airliners
Two Asian airlines have launched the first flights using their new Russian-made Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ-100) aircraft. Lao Central Airlines put its SSJ-100 into service on the route between Vientiane and Luang Prabang, in northern Laos. Meanwhile in Indonesia, Sky Aviation has started operating the regional jet on services between Sulawesi’s largest city Makassar, and Sorong, in the province of West Papua. TheSSJ-100s has up to 93 seats in two classes. Sukhoi has taken 234 orders but has only delivered 14.

No more pork on some Qantas flights
Like other airlines serving the Middle East, Qantas has removed pork from its in-flight menu on flights to and from Europe as a result of its partnership with Emirates. All meals offered on the route in first, business and economy classes will also be prepared without alcohol in keeping with the Islamic religion. The airline has also introduced a mezze plate offering traditional Middle Eastern fare in its upper classes and has Arabic translations after in-flight announcements. Qantas says the decision to remove pork, ham and other related food items has had minimal impact on its menu and it is still offering the same meal choices. Etihad, and Malaysia do not serve pork either while Virgin Australia does not on flights to and from Abu Dhabi.