Business Traveller Middle East articles from November 2003

Business Traveller Middle East archives from November 2003

This issue.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... It's a bit like the London buses adage: you wait ages for a new airline and then two come along at once. Etihad Airways, promoting itself as 'The UAE's national airline' from its Abu Dhabi base, takes to the skies from mid-November. In a bid to...

Bahrain Duty Free.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... We would like to thank you for the right of reply to your heading 'Backward Bahrain' (letters, September-October issue). Bahrain Duty Free continues to work in close cooperation with the Civil Aviation Affairs to offer all its travellers value...

Weighty issue.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... It was interesting to read the press reports about the EgyptAir pilot who refused to fly between Cairo and Dubai recently, because he feared for the health of one of his overweight female passengers. This is a sensitive issue and one that is...

Turbulent times.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... Although I've been travelling on work for about 10 years now, I'm always intrigued by the varying attitudes shown when an aircraft hits turbulence. Some captains are very chatty about the weathers, others rarely pass comment. On a recent...

Concorde closure.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... I am sure many readers will have watched with sadness as the last Concorde flight touched down at London's Heathrow recently. Ever since Concorde made its first flight to Bahrain in 1976, the supersonic jet-liner touched many people's hearts in...

Low-cost services.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... The advent of low-cost airlines in the Middle East marks one of the major developments in the regional aviation market. I am sure many travel departments will be scrutinising their prices and seeing how they compare with scheduled airlines--but...

Emirates rolls out First Class flatbeds.(Airlines)
November 1, 2003... Emirates' eight new A340-500s will contain flat beds in First Class and services that rival 'even the most sophisticated executive jets'--although the upgraded business class is a standard two-two-two configuration. The first aircraft will...

Dubai unveils biggest project.(Dubailand)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... A mammoth retail, sports, leisure and entertainment 'city' is scheduled to open in Dubai in 2006. Dubailand, comprising 45 main projects and 200 sub-projects, will be a lynch-pin in the emirate's tourism drive with up to 200,000 daily visitors...

Saudi gears up for privatisation.(Airports)(Saudi Civil Aviation authority)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Saudi Arabia is planning to privatise its international and local airports but keep security duties in state hands. "The civil aviation authority will seek to achieve broad private sector participation in running local and international...

Bexair rises to the Challenger.(Airlines)(Bahrain Executive Air Services)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Bahrain Executive Air Services (Bexair) has added a third aircraft to its fleet--the 10-seater Challenger 604 that can fly non-stop from the Gulf to Europe. Fakeer Sheik, Bexair's marketing support manager, says the company plans to add...

Fingers on the terrorists' pulse.(Airports security)(US-Visit system)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Digital fingerprinting and photo-checking procedures will be commonplace in the US from January 5 next year. The US-Visit system goes on trial in Atlanta shortly and will then be rolled out to all 115 airports. Travellers' data will be...

Taxing time for UK travellers.(Airlines)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Business and First Class travellers could end up paying twice as much air passenger duty under tax revenue-generating proposals under consideration by the UK Government. Duties could double to 20 [pounds sterling] ($32) for short-haul and 40...

Etihad firmly in the zone.(personal service zones on flights)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... New Abu Dhabi-based airline Etihad Airways has scrapped the traditional three-tier cabin structure in favour of designated zones which are intended to offer enhanced levels of personal service. Diamond (18 seats, 75-inch pitch), Pearl (36...

Internet access on Lufthansa.(Airlines)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Longer and flatter beds and seat-side Internet access are among the principal features of Lufthansa's revamped business class. The services, part era 300 million ($350 million) overhaul, are being introduced on the airline's new A340-600...

Meet on the water.(Cruising)
November 1, 2003... Upmarket lunch, dinner and sunset cruises set sail on Dubai Creek from November. The 60-metre Al Minsaf, which can accommodate 350 guests, is being launched by Bateaux Dubai, founded by the Dutco Group and Sodexho Alliance Group. Although...

Jumeirah International.(Hotel updates)
November 1, 2003... Jumeirah International's new Sirius rewards programme features blue, silver and gold tiers and replaces the previous Jumeirah Card (members are automatically transferred). Privileges include complimentary breakfast, newspapers and garment...

Sail Tower Residence.(Hotel updates)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... If you're planning a long stay in Bahrain then check out the 13-floor Sail Tower Residence in Bahrain, managed by The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa. The new nautical-themed property has 16 229 square-metre rooms, two duplexes and two...

One&Only Resorts.(Hotel updates)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Skywards members can earn Miles by staying at One&Only Resorts in Dubai, Kanuhara in the Maldives, Le Saint Geran or Le Touessrok (both Mauritius). Book in for a stay before December 15 and win a week half-board for two at one of the resorts...

Frankfurt Airport's Sheraton.(Hotel updates)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Renovations costing 50 million have directly linked Frankfurt Airport's Sheraton with the airport terminal and new long-distance train station. Both the railway station and airport are close by and accessed via a covered walkway....

Guests in many Marriott, Radisson and Ritz-Carlton hotels will now be able to surf the internet without plugging into dataports.(Hotel updates)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Guests in many Marriott, Radisson and Ritz-Carlton hotels will now be able to surf the internet without plugging into dataports. Wireless service provider Boingo has signed a roaming agreement to provide high-speed wired and wireless Internet...

First cuts leave leaner business.(Air France business class layouts)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Air France is scrapping First Class on its B747s and A330/340s from the end of the year but preparing to roll out new First and Business classes as part of a major 300 million [euro] investment. The new L'Espace Affaires (business class,...

Luxury limos rolled out in Dubai.(Airports)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Dubai-bound business travellers can now really turn on the automotive style. Prime Limousine's 16-vehicle fleet comprises Cadillac Escalades, Mercedes S350s, BMW7 Series and Cadillac stretch limos and each 2003 model comes with indulgent extras...

Travel light in Florida.(Hotels)(new bag check-in service initiated)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Passengers needn't fret about carrying their bags when flying out of Orlando International Airport. A new BAGS (Baggage Airline Guest Services) pilot programme allows guests staying at the Rosen Centre Hotel, next to the Orange County...

Air Arabia.(Airline briefs)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... New low-cost airline Air Arabia is now flying to Bahrain, Beirut, Damascus, Kuwait and Muscat on A320 aircraft from Sharjah International Airport. Proposed future destinations include Amman, Cairo, Colombo, Doha, Isfahan, Shiraz, Tehran, Sana'a...

Qatar Airways.(Airline briefs)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Qatar Airways recently started services to Seoul and Shanghai (October 29), Tripoli (November 9), Vienna (November 19), Singapore and Cebu (December 10). Services to Zurich are earmarked this winter. www.qatarairways.com

Cyprus Airways.(Airline briefs)(new service starts between Dubai and Colombo)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Cyprus Airways starts twice-a-week services between Dubai and Colombo from November 18. The new services on A320 aircraft originate in Larnaca, doubling the airline's services between Dubai and Larnaca to four a week. www.cyprusairways.com

British Airways.(Airline briefs)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... British Airways is adding a B747-400 between Dubai and London from December 1, raising route capacity by nearly 20%. The airline also resumes flights to Pakistan from December, operating three flights a week between London Heathrow and...

Singapore Airlines.(Airline briefs)(direct flights to Los Angeles and New York planned)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Singapore Airlines plans to launch direct flights from Singapore to Los Angeles next February, making the 16-hour service the world's longest non-stop commercial flight. An 18-hour non-stop service to New York is planned next August....

Cathay Pacific.(Airline briefs)(new airplane received and placed in service)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Cathay Pacific has taken delivery of a new A330-300, swelling its fleet to 81, with two more on order and three B777-300s due for delivery next year. The 32-seat business class contains the 'world's first' Tenzing inflight e-mail system. The...

Arab Air Carriers Organisation.(Airline briefs)(air traffic growth)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Arab air traffic grew 4.8% in the first half of this year while worldwide traffic slumped 7.2%, delegates were told at the 36th Arab Air Carriers Organisation annual general meeting in Oman. www.aaco.org

Lufthansa.(Airline briefs)(Dubai to Munich flights offered)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Lufthansa now operates five direct flights a week between Dubai and Munich (daily except for Tuesdays and Wednesdays). Flights leave Dubai at 9.30am, arriving in Munich at 1.10pm. www.lufthansa.com

The Peninsula, New York.(Hotel Check)(Hotel Review)
November 1, 2003... First impressions: The minute you arrive at the front door of the Peninsula you know this is a smart operation. There's a warm Asian-style welcome from all the black-uniformed staff, and the doorman jumps to attention as taxis halt outside. The...

Al Diar Capital Hotel, Abu Dhabi.(Hotel Check)(Hotel Review)
November 1, 2003... Location: This relatively new four-star property is in the heart of Abu Dhabi's business district, close to Mina Zayed (port) and Abu Dhabi's shopping district. Abu Dhabi International Airport is a 35-minute drive away. Rooms: All 200...

Qatar Airways.(Flight check: Doha-Rome)
November 1, 2003... Departures: It's a surprisingly slow check-in at a quiet Doha International Airport; let's put it down to inaugural-flight flutters, they'll have to be a lot quicker than this on a normal day-to-day. Lounge: As we enter the airline's...

Sheraton Perth.(Hotel Check)(Hotel Review)
November 1, 2003... First impressions: The hotel is a 30-minute (A$25/$16 taxi ride) ride from Perth International Airport. The lobby is functionally smart and minimalistic and check-in was polite and efficient, gifts to rooms are all controlled by guests' key...

Ask Alex.(travel questions)
November 1, 2003... Dear Alex I travelled from Penang in Malaysia via Kuala Lumpur and London to Barcelona in Spain with Malaysia Airlines and British Airways. I connected between Malaysia Airlines and British Airways at Heathrow. I used a frequent flyer...

Thrills or no frills? Low-cost carriers have revolutionised European and American air travel but will they be as successful in the Middle East? Ben Smalley casts the spotlight on Air Arabia and other new-launch budget airlines and assesses their potential for business travellers in the region.(Low-cost airlines)
November 1, 2003... The prospect of three budget airlines operating in the Middle East may have corporate travel bookers rubbing their hands with glee at the potential savings they could make, but in reality it could be several years before the new carriers make a...

Feel mighty riyal: lucrative energy, infrastructure and tourism-related contracts are set to flood cash-rich Qatar in the next five years.(Doha)
November 1, 2003... Qatar may be one of the few words you can type with one hand, but getting your head around this small, energy-swamped nation is a tougher proposition. Beneath its quiet, almost soporific veneer lies a fiercely competitive corporate scene, one...

Essentials Doha.(Doha)(Movenpick, Hotel Doha)(Sheraton Doha, Hotel & Resort)(The Ritz-Carlton Doha)(Hotel Review)
November 1, 2003... Hotels Movenpick, Hotel Doha Tel: 974 429 1111 Fax: 874 429 1180 web site: www.movenpick-doha.com www.qnhc.com * The Movenpick is centrally located next to the Corniche, with a small lobby area but spacious rooms....

Speeding into a new jet stream: we may live in a cash-conscious, post-Concorde era but more Middle East executives are realising the benefits of speedy executive jet travel.(Executive jets)
November 1, 2003... Executive jets used to he the domain of itinerary-stretched rock stars and high-flying royalty. Businessmen used them only sparingly, wary of the backlash from shareholders over accusations of corporate indulgence. Bur perceptions are...

Competition: forget all about the office and enjoy five nights with your partner at Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat.
November 1, 2003... When it comes to striking hotel settings, Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat takes some beating. Facing the azure waters of the Gulf of Oman and with the rugged beauty of the Hajar Mountains as its backdrop, it is not hard to see why this...

Life in the fast lane: Kuwait one minute, Oman the next--the life of Porsche Middle East & Africa's Managing Director Mark Bishop is every bit as dynamic as the famous brand he drives and sells.(Frequent traveller)(Interview)
November 1, 2003... Porsche's Middle East & African subsidiary set up four-and-a-half years ago in Dubai, continues to speed into new markets with the Levant, GCC and South Africa now covered, and India, Kenya and Nigeria looming on the sales-target horizon....

Sydney International Airport: recently overhauled facilities at Sydney mean business travellers now have a spacious, comfortable gateway to Australia.(Airport update)(Kingford Smith Airport)
November 1, 2003... In 2000, just in time for the Olympic Games, AD$2 billion ($1,323 million) was spent on upgrading and expanding Sydney's Kingford Smith Airport. As a result, the airport has modern facilities and space to show them off. The terminal is spread...

Scenes from an exhibition: plenty of home, office and travel-oriented devices were on show at the recent Gulf Information Technology Exhibition 2003.(Technology)
November 1, 2003... Future vision We can all expect to see more iris scanning machines on our travels in these security-conscious times. IBM, in partnership with Dartagnan Biometric Solutions, showed its iris scan-based biometric security solution for the...

4 hours in Tripoli: the Libyan capital of Tripoli has attracted conquering armies through the centuries including the Romans, Turks and Italians. guides you through the city they left behind.
November 1, 2003... 1 Green Square Start from this large and busy central square, the centre of both old and new Tripoli. Stand with your back to the sea and on your right is the Assai Al-Hamra castle. Mussolini gave a speech from the top of these castle...

The millionaire's club: seal a deal in Jersey and you've done well--particularly if it's on one of the island's stunning courses.(Golf)
November 1, 2003... Jersey may be only nine miles long and five wide, but it seems to revel in grandiose statistics. More than 100 millionaires live on the European Channel Island which is internationally famous as a tax haven and banking centre. Perhaps lesser...

High hopes: contrary to media reports, Taiwan's economic base is upgrading. Brent Hannon shatters the myths.(Taipei)
November 1, 2003... I have been a Taipei-based correspondent for eight years, and am often approached by news weeklies to write articles about Taiwan. There is a pattern to these enquiries: the magazines say they want articles about Taiwan, but what they really...

Architects of change: it's expensive, over-crowded and the transport system's on its knees but London still attracts millions of tourists a year. Now its architectural renaissance is set to boost visitor numbers even more.(London)(Cover Story)
November 1, 2003... Deep in the Lower Lea Valley in east London something has stirred. A design blueprint is being drawn up to transform the area, one of the poorest parts of the UK, into a stunning new development capable of stunning the Olympics in 2012. ...

Higher plane: if you fancy a sea-free break in the UAE, retreat to the tranquil Jebel Hafeet mountain near Al Ain.(Great escape)
November 1, 2003... It was almost a steep bend too far. Having successfully negotiated two-thirds of the hairpin twists and turns up the 1,240-metre Jebel Hafeet mountain, the silver Polo couldn't handle the final stretch of the smooth German-built highway and...

Holy month slowdown.(Middle East)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Executives travelling around the Middle East should keep their appointments extremely flexible throughout November. Be prepared for subdued daytimes and lively evenings during the Holy Month of Ramadan--and while the quiet and relaxed...

Feast on festive markets.(Europe)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... It may be crisp and cold across Europe in December but you'll find plenty of heart. warming entertainment at street level. From Vienna to Brugge, the festive market is a continent-wide tradition--and few countries match Germany when it...

Roaring time in Singapore.(Singapore)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... If you're heading east this season, make a point of stopping off in Singapore which will be a riot of colours and illuminations in December. Fir-tree garlands, brilliant lights and an animated medieval archway are among the highlights on...

Beirut: the Phoenicia InterContinental's Great Ballroom.(World in brief)
November 1, 2003... BEIRUT: The Phoenicia InterContinental's Great Ballroom becomes a treasure trove for antiques hunters between December 5-10.

London: Britain's favourite jazz festival returns.(World in brief)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... LONDON: Britain's favourite jazz festival returns, with a mix of UK and international performers appearing at the Royal Festival Hall and other venues between November 14-23.

Singapore: watch juggling, mime, acrobatics and stilt-walking.(World in brief)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... SINGAPORE: Watch juggling, mime, acrobatics and stilt-walking at the River Buskers' Festival between November 15-23.

New York: the whole of the US celebrates Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November.(World in brief)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... NEW YORK: The whole of the US celebrates Thanksgiving on the fourth Thursday in November (27) with family gatherings, turkey feasts and American football.

Amsterdam: the city hosts an International Documentary Film Festival.(World in brief)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... AMSTERDAM: The city hosts an International Documentary Film Festival between November 20-30.

Lille: the European City of Culture for 2004 swings into festival mood.(World in brief)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... LILLE: The European City of Culture for 2004 swings into festival mood by hosting a Great White Ball on December 6.

Melbourne: the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra plays its annual pre-Christmas performances.(World in brief)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... MELBOURNE: The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra plays its annual pre-Christmas performances of Handel's Messiah between December 17-19, tel: (61) 3 9662 2233.

Tokyo: year-end fairs are celebrated.(World in brief)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... TOKYO: Year-end fairs are celebrated at almost all of the city's tamples, tel: (81) 4 4266 3420

San Fernando: if you're visiting the Philippines.(World in brief)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... SAN FERNANDO: If you're visiting the Philippines, don't miss the Giant Lantern Festival on December 19, tel: (63) 45 961 2665.