Having done away with first class in favour of a vastly beefed-up business class proposition, American Airlines and United Airlines look set to upgrade a handful of business class seats with even more comfort and convenience. Those seats are in the very front row of the business class cabin, where there’s typically extra space facing the bulkhead wall – and it’s become the in thing for airlines to monetise this Row 1 proposition by adopting it into a ’business plus’ product. JetBlue’s A321LR Mint Studio, Virgin Atlantic’s A330neo Retreat Suite, Lufthansa’s Allegris Suites and Air New Zealand’s Business Premiere Luxe are all examples of giving the first row of business class something extra – and making it something passengers will pay extra for. Now American Airlines is jumping on the ‘business plus’ bandwagon and United Airlines is also scoping out the turf. In addition to evaluating an upgraded Polaris business class suite with sliding doors, United Airlines is now testing the waters for a Polaris Plus product. In a survey sent to selected Mileage Plus members, the Star Alliance airline notes it is “considering the introduction of a limited number of new seats within the Polaris business class cabin. These seats would be more spacious than the standard Polaris seats. In addition to the more spacious seat, United is exploring premium amenities that would only be offered to customers in the upgraded seats.” The survey lays out several scenarios where a passenger could ’upgrade’ to this Polaris Plus experience, in one case suggesting prices from US$300 to US$650 for “a 14-hour flight that departs at 11am” where the initial Polaris ticket cost US$2,500.<br/>
star
Avianca announced that it will request the aeronautical authorities of Colombia and Brazil to operate a new direct route between Brasília and Bogotá for the end-of-year season. "Colombia and Brazil are two of the most relevant airline markets on the continent. Added to this, Bogotá and Brasília are two of the most relevant hubs in Latin America. That's why we are studying the possibility of continuing to connect more customers, strengthening our cargo operation, promoting tourism and business not only between Colombia and Brazil, but also with our network of more than 75 destinations in 25 countries.s”, stated Frederico Pedreira, CEO and president of Avianca. Avianca's frequencies would complement those requested by GOL for this same route. Currently, both airlines have connections interline and a codeshare agreement with more than 80 routes and more than 60 destinations, which allows customers to connect between both companies' networks. The operation between Brasília and Bogotá would be a milestone for both countries, as it would allow connecting two of the main hubs from GOL and Avianca.<br/>
Construction has commenced on Lufthansa Group’s new visitor and conference centre near the Lufthansa Aviation Center (LAC) at Frankfurt Airport in Germany. The facility, designed by architecture company Albert Speer + Partner (AS+P), is intended to serve as a hub for collaboration for Lufthansa employees. It will also serve customers, business partners, and aviation enthusiasts. Goldbeck, a building and service company, has been tasked with its construction. This facility will have two aircraft: the Junkers Ju 52 and the Lockheed Super Star, registration D-ALAN, on permanent display. These aircraft will be showcased through a large transparent facade. Lockheed Super Star is currently undergoing restoration at Lufthansa Technik in Hamburg. The new building, which is said to be designed akin to an aircraft hangar, will offer conference and visitor facilities for more than 1,000 guests. In addition, the design of the building is said to represent the style of the neighbouring LAC. <br/>
Air India will develop a connecting hub at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport (BLR), which is reporting record passenger numbers for its just-completed financial year. The airline has signed an agreement with BLR “to develop Bengaluru as a premier aviation hub for southern India, with an aim to boost air travel connectivity to and from India over the next few years,” the airport says in a statement. CEO Campbell Wilson told Aviation Week Network last year that Air India was looking to build a third connecting hub—after New Delhi and Mumbai—in the south of India. Other airlines owned by Air India parent Tata Group, AIX Connect and Vistara, will also grow operations at BLR, according to the airport. “The agreement marks a significant milestone in the Indian aviation industry. Air India [and BLR] will collaborate to enhance international connectivity, operational efficiency and passenger experience over the next five years,” BLR says.<br/>