Carry On: News for business travellers

Airbus A350XWB makes debut
Kuwait Airways has added 10 orders for the yet-to-fly Airbus A350-900, pushing the total book for the extra-wide-bodied jet to 626 with service entry planned before the end of 2014. Airbus showed off the first painted version this week at the Toulouse factory as engineers prepare for the maiden test flight in coming weeks.

Reports out of Japan say its two biggest airlines, Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways, are considering the new A350-1000 model to replace their older Boeing 777 aircraft. The JAL deal could total up to 20 aircraft, the report states. Both airlines have been loyal Boeing customers are the biggest users of the 787 Dreamliner. The A350 is seen as a major threat to Boeing, which is fighting back with a re-winged and re-engined 777X, though it hasn’t yet committed to the revamped model.

The painting of the first 350XWB was achieved in less than seven days and follows the recent completion of its flight-test-instrumentation verification. Last month the aircraft underwent its engines installation, and passed a subsequent intensive phase of ground vibration tests. It will soon start the final tests before its maiden flight this summer.

Tahiti carrier revamps cabins
Air Tahiti Nui’s revamped two-class A340-300 aircraft landed in Auckland for the first time this week. It has an enhanced inflight entertainment system and a fresh cabin redesign. Business class has been expanded from 24 to 32 seats with a new angled lie-flat design. New economy class features include comfort-focused lightweight seats that are a spacious 18in wide and have an average 32in pitch.

The new inflight entertainment system offers on-demand access to a wide range of movies and television programs as well as magazines, games, music and special channels for kids. Meanwhile, Air Tahiti Nui and its domestic partner Air Tahiti are offering a side trip from the main island of Tahiti to others for just $80 – a saving  of up to NZ$449 a person – for bookings before June 3.

Swiss returns to Changi
Swiss International Air Lines has reinstated its Zurich-Singapore service after a four-year hiatus. During that period, the route was a monopoly for Singapore Airlines. The 4000-strong Swiss community in Singapore is the largest in an Asian city. The restored link also pits two Star Alliance airlines against each other (Swiss is part of the Lufthansa Group). "Apart from an increase in seat capacity, Swiss' new service will also provide passengers with more options,” says Thomas Kupfer, the Swiss ambassador, to Singapore.

New Caledonia up, Osaka down
Air New Zealand will add a third weekly service to Nouméa in the peak Christmas-New Year holiday period. The extra flight will run on Mondays from December 16 to January 27. Meanwhile, Air New Zealand will end its Osaka service from October 1, citing lower patronage out of Japan.