briker
October 16th, 2011, 04:06 AM
October 12th, 2011
British Airways will increase its double-daily Johannesburg schedule by three flights from March next year, adding nearly 700 seats a week between London and South Africa's commercial capital.
According to TourismUpdate.co.za, the three additional Johannesburg services will
depart London on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 18h05, arriving at
06h10 the next morning. The return services will depart Johannesburg on
Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 07h40, arriving at 17h50 the same day.
The new services will be operated by B777-200ER aircraft in a
four-class configuration. These are some of the most modern aircraft in
the British Airways’ fleet.
It will also add an additional service to its Cape Town summer schedule to offer double-daily flights from the end of October 2011. The 747-400 aircraft will add some 14 400 seats into and out of the Mother City over the busy summer season.
"The additional services give our customers increased choice and flexibility and provide better connections from London to our global network and to the regional and domestic network operated by our franchise partner, British Airways Comair," says Gavin Halliday, the area general manager for Europe and Africa.
The move comes shortly after the airline announced a renewed focus on customer service and a £5-billion (about R61.5-billion at R12.27/£) investment in new aircraft, onboard products, catering, training and technology.
This includes its new First cabin, already fitted to some aircraft on the South African routes.
The airline is also upgrading its World Traveller and World Traveller Plus cabins, introducing more comfortable seats and a new inflight entertainment system.
The catering in both cabins is being improved and World Traveller Plus customers will be able to choose two of the dishes of the Club World menu, while those in World Traveller will be offered ‘tuck boxes' after the main meal service, to enjoy on the flight or take home.
Senior cabin crew are being given iPads to provide faster, more efficient, personalised customer service. These enable them to see instantly where customers and their travel companions are seated, their Executive Club status, onward flight connections and special meal requests. Any issues can be logged with ground-based colleagues before departure and solved while the flight is airborne.
On the ground, technology is making the check-in process faster and more convenient. More than a million customers have downloaded British Airways' smartphone apps and it is now launching a new iPhone feature, giving users the ability to book flights from their phones.
The airline is also upgrading its fleet, with more modern, fuel-efficient aircraft. It is taking delivery of three more Boeing 777ERs in the next six months. The first A380 will arrive in 2013 and it expects to take delivery of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner the same year.
British Airways will increase its double-daily Johannesburg schedule by three flights from March next year, adding nearly 700 seats a week between London and South Africa's commercial capital.
According to TourismUpdate.co.za, the three additional Johannesburg services will
depart London on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 18h05, arriving at
06h10 the next morning. The return services will depart Johannesburg on
Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 07h40, arriving at 17h50 the same day.
The new services will be operated by B777-200ER aircraft in a
four-class configuration. These are some of the most modern aircraft in
the British Airways’ fleet.
It will also add an additional service to its Cape Town summer schedule to offer double-daily flights from the end of October 2011. The 747-400 aircraft will add some 14 400 seats into and out of the Mother City over the busy summer season.
"The additional services give our customers increased choice and flexibility and provide better connections from London to our global network and to the regional and domestic network operated by our franchise partner, British Airways Comair," says Gavin Halliday, the area general manager for Europe and Africa.
The move comes shortly after the airline announced a renewed focus on customer service and a £5-billion (about R61.5-billion at R12.27/£) investment in new aircraft, onboard products, catering, training and technology.
This includes its new First cabin, already fitted to some aircraft on the South African routes.
The airline is also upgrading its World Traveller and World Traveller Plus cabins, introducing more comfortable seats and a new inflight entertainment system.
The catering in both cabins is being improved and World Traveller Plus customers will be able to choose two of the dishes of the Club World menu, while those in World Traveller will be offered ‘tuck boxes' after the main meal service, to enjoy on the flight or take home.
Senior cabin crew are being given iPads to provide faster, more efficient, personalised customer service. These enable them to see instantly where customers and their travel companions are seated, their Executive Club status, onward flight connections and special meal requests. Any issues can be logged with ground-based colleagues before departure and solved while the flight is airborne.
On the ground, technology is making the check-in process faster and more convenient. More than a million customers have downloaded British Airways' smartphone apps and it is now launching a new iPhone feature, giving users the ability to book flights from their phones.
The airline is also upgrading its fleet, with more modern, fuel-efficient aircraft. It is taking delivery of three more Boeing 777ERs in the next six months. The first A380 will arrive in 2013 and it expects to take delivery of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner the same year.