Tag: Country (Page 4 of 7)

Icelandair Announces the Opening of the Sky Lagoon in Reykjavík

May 10, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Sky Lagoon, Iceland’s newest geothermal bathing hotspot, opened in Reykjavík last week. If you know Iceland, you know that soaking in warm water is a favorite national pastime. Sky Lagoon is one of the new breed of designer pools catering to locals and visitors looking for sweet soaking opportunities in Instagram-worthy landscapes.

The opening weekend for Sky Lagoon was a big, buzz-worthy success, with media coverage and plenty of gorgeous photos flooding social media. The sun shone brightly and in an incredible stroke of good fortune, Sky Lagoon’s huge, 75-meter (246ft) infinity-edge pool and the large windows of the designer sauna enjoy a view across the ocean to the Icelandic president’s residence at Bessastaðir, and in the distance, the erupting volcano on the Reykjanes peninsula. The view – of smoke plumes, and a red glow when the conditions are favorable – is one the architects could have only dreamed about in the planning stages of the complex. A front-row seat for rosy sunsets completes the appeal, and we can imagine winter soaks under northern lights adding an extra wow factor.

Visiting Sky Lagoon

Sky Lagoon is just a few kilometres from downtown Reykjavík, at Kársnes harbor in Kópavogur. Note that it’s not a place for people with young kids, as admission to the lagoon starts at 12 years of age.

Visitors have a choice of 2 packages, with the main difference being in the changing facilities. The more expensive Sky Pass includes private changing rooms with use of Sky Lagoon’s premium hair- and skincare amenities. Both entry passes – the cheaper Pure Pass, and the Sky Pass – include lagoon admission and access to the 7-step ‘Ritual’, which takes place inside a turfhouse inspired by an age-old Icelandic building tradition. There’s an in-water bar serving drinks, plus a stylish cafe and snack bar in the complex building.

Throughout the stylishly rustic complex, visitors can see design elements that draw inspiration from Icelandic nature and heritage, from the turfhouse to turf walls and plunge pool.

The Ritual

Sky Lagoon presents The Ritual as a ‘rejuvenating journey that awakens your senses and leaves your skin healthy and glowing’. It combines warm and cold waters, warm steam, dry heat and fresh air.

Step 1: Slow down in the warm waters of the lagoon.
Step 2: Take a cold plunge in a pool inspired by Snorralaug in West Iceland, thought to have been in use since the 12th century.
Step 3: Sweat and swoon over the view from the sauna.
Step 4: Cool down under a cold mist.
Step 5: Use the body scrub (provided) to awaken your skin.
Step 6: Sit and inhale in the steam room.
Step 7: Rinse off the scrub in the shower and return to the lagoon.

Geothermal bliss

If you like the sound of Sky Lagoon, Iceland has a lot more treats that are right up your alley. There’s a growing number of geothermal spas springing up around the country, creating an incidental itinerary for road-trippers looking to end each day with a scenic soak.

Aside from Sky Lagoon, one of the newest to hit the scene is Vök Baths (pictured below) in East Iceland, where the highlight is 2 floating pools set in lake waters.

All year round, these complexes draw bathers to their warm waters. In the wise words of one local, “Iceland’s sunshine doesn’t come from the sky, it comes from the water.”

Amtrak Releasing Six 50th Anniversary Commemorative Painted Locomotives

March 17, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Amtrak fans across the country may soon spot a few freshly painted locomotives featuring new anniversary logos rolling down the tracks as America’s Railroad® celebrates 50 years of service this year. The first of six different commemorative 50^th anniversary locomotives has already entered service on the national network.

“We chose locomotives already budgeted for new paint as part of our life cycle preventative maintenance program and used the opportunity to celebrate this significant milestone on the most iconic component of our business,” said Amtrak President Stephen Gardner. “The locomotive designs uniquely honor our heritage and our vision of connecting communities, economies and families nationwide.”

The commemorative locomotive list includes:

P42 #46 in “Phase V 50^th” – The standard Amtrak livery for the past two decades with our “Connecting America for 50 Years” slogan including a large golden yellow 50.
P42 in “Midnight Blue”: An all new one-of-a-kind paint scheme celebrating the dedication and commitment of our employees moving people around the clock and across the nation.
P42 in “Phase VI” – The first adaptation of the latest Amtrak livery phase on a P42.
P42 in “Phase I” – A rendition of Amtrak’s first livery phase dating back to 1972.
P42 in “Dash 8 Phase III” – The award-winning livery designed for the Dash 8 locomotive fleet in the early 90s, adapted for the first time to a P42 locomotive.
ALC-42 #301 in “Day 1” scheme – A historic throwback to the unique design created for the first day of operations on May 1, 1971, applied to Amtrak’s newest locomotive.

Each P42 locomotive is being painted and overhauled at the Amtrak Beech Grove shops in Beech Grove, Ind., rolling out over the coming months and entering service across the national network. Employees will also ensure that these locomotives are maintained to high performance and safety standards. ALC-42 #301 is currently being manufactured by Siemens in Sacramento, Calif. and is expected to be delivered in April to undergo testing in the Northeast Corridor before entering service on the national network.

In addition to the commemorative locomotives, 50^th Anniversary collectible items are also now available for purchase at the Amtrak store, including t-shirts, glasses, a challenge coin, pins and other celebratory Amtrak gear.

Amtrak 50th – Paint Scheme and Livery History

Alaska Air Announces New Flights Between California and Montana

March 4, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

SEATTLE, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Following on the heels of Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) recent announcement of Montana flights (http://planesintheair.com/southwest-airlines-service-to-destin-ft-walton-and-bozeman-to-begin-may-2021/), Alaska Airlines (NYSE: ALK) has today announced four new routes between California and Montana for the summer, increasing total jet service to seven nonstop routes between the two states.

The newest “Sun and Fun” additions will connect Los Angeles and San Diego with Kalispell, Montana, and connect San Diego and San Francisco with Bozeman, Montana. The Los Angeles and San Diego flights start May 20, and the San Francisco flight starts June 17. They’ll operate through Sept. 7.

This added summer flying builds on year-round service on three nonstop routes that connect San Diego with Missoula, Montana, and connect Los Angeles with Bozeman and Missoula.

Tickets for the new flights are available at alaskaair.com with one-way fares starting as low as $69 to and from Bozeman and as low as $89 to and from Kalispell.

Start Date	End Date	City Pair	Frequency	Aircraft
May 20, 2021	Sept. 7, 2021	Los Angeles – Kalispell	W, Sa	E175
May 20, 2021	Sept. 7, 2021	San Diego – Kalispell	M, F, Sa	E175
May 20, 2021	Sept. 7, 2021	San Diego – Bozeman	T, W, Th, Sa, Su	E175
June 17, 2021	Sept. 7, 2021	San Francisco – Bozeman	Sa	E175

The new routes will be served by the Embraer 175 jet, a jet aircraft with only window and aisle seating – no middle seats. On all the new routes, guests will enjoy award-winning service in a three-class cabin that includes First Class and Premium Class; Most Free Movies in the Sky with hundreds of movies and TV shows available for viewing on personal devices; free texting on most flights; and Wi-Fi connectivity for purchase.

Kalispell’s Glacier Park International Airport is in northwest Montana’s Flathead Valley, which encompasses the gateway to Glacier National Park, Whitefish Mountain Resort and Flathead Lake — the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River.

Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport is the definition of “Big Sky Country” and about 90 miles north of Yellowstone National Park. Surrounded by mountains and rivers, Bozeman offers fishermen and hikers an abundance of options. Fly fish for trout on the Gallatin, Yellowstone, and Missouri Rivers. Follow Highway 191 for views of snow-capped mountains in Gallatin Canyon.

Global reach: With the oneworld alliance and Alaska’s Global Partners, Alaska’s guests can connect at gateway airports on the West Coast – such as Los Angeles and San Francisco – to fly to more than 900 destinations around the world. Flyers can also earn and redeem miles with the airline’s highly-acclaimed Mileage Plan program.

Alaska Airlines serves six cities in Montana: Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Helena, Kalispell and Missoula.

Alaska Airlines serves 15 cities in California: Burbank, Fresno, Los Angeles, Monterey, Oakland, Ontario, Orange County, Palm Springs, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Sonoma.

Qantas Starts Flights to Griffith, Australia

March 1, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

QantasLink is today adding Griffith to its map, operating direct flights from Sydney for the first time to meet increased demand for travel within Australia. The inaugural flight QF2121 arrived in Griffith from Sydney at midday with local business and community leaders at the Airport to welcome the aircraft’s arrival. The service will operate daily with the airline’s turboprop 50-seat Q300 aircraft, adding more than 700 seats on the route each week.

Speaking from Griffith to mark the inaugural flight, QantasLink CEO John Gissing said the new route reinforced the national carrier’s commitment to supporting regional Australia. “As the national carrier, we have an important role to play in driving tourism and supporting the industry in its recovery from COVID-19. We know Australians want to travel so we’ve been looking for opportunities to support new routes where there is demand and help deliver a boost for local businesses. We’re working with tourism partners to promote the world-class wineries and fresh produce of the beautiful Riverina region to millions of our frequent flyers around the country”.

Qantas (QAN.AX) is also today launching a new regional route from Melbourne to Merimbula. Since the start of COVID-19, the Qantas Group has announced or commenced flying on 26 new routes across Australia, reflecting new travel demand patterns.

The route launch follows a new suite of initiatives introduced for customers, including a boost to flexibility allowing unlimited flight changes until at least February 2022.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Qantas has introduced a number of initiatives improve safety and peace-of-mind when travelling domestically through its Fly Well program, including masks on board, hand sanitising stations and enhanced aircraft cleaning.

Southwest Airlines Service To Destin/Ft. Walton and Bozeman to Begin May 2021

February 25, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Southwest Airlines Company (NYSE: LUV) today announced the flexibility and value of Southwest Airlines^® now benefits both visitors and hometown travelers booking late spring and summer travel to Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) in Florida and Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN) in Montana. Southwest^® service to both destinations begins in May 2021.

“We’re adding another destination in the West, our first in Montana, and bringing additional access to the beaches of Northwest Florida just as winter-weary families begin to dream of warm summer escapes in wide-open places,” said Andrew Watterson, Southwest Airlines Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer. “Our arrival in these communities with daily service also ushers a new flexibility and everyday affordability for local travelers flying Southwest for fun, family, or work.”

DESTIN/FT. WALTON BEACH, FLA., DAILY SERVICE BEGINS MAY 6, 2021

Beginning May 6, 2021, Southwest will commence service to an 11^th airport in the Sunshine State, bringing a third option for beachcombers to access the Florida panhandle. Southwest Customers will be able to fly nonstop between Destin/Ft. Walton Beach and four destinations: Baltimore/Washington (BWI), Dallas (Love Field), and Nashville, bringing additional connecting or same-plane service to more than 50 cities, with added nonstop service to Chicago (Midway) beginning June 6, 2021. This new service is available for purchase now at Southwest.com:

Fly nonstop betweenDestin/Ft. Walton Beach and:	Initial daily service:	One-way fares as low as:
Baltimore/Washington (BWI)	1 flight each way	$79
Chicago (Midway) (beginning June 6)	1 flight each way	$79
Dallas (Love Field)	1 flight each way	$69
Nashville	3 flights each way	$69

The number of seats, days, and markets for these fares are limited. See a full list of fares, fare rules, and terms and conditions below.

BOZEMAN, MONTANA, DAILY SERVICE BEGINS MAY 27, 2021

In its 50^th year of service, Southwest Airlines adds another of the 50 states to its network, bringing low fares to the state of Montana on May 27, 2021. The addition of Bozeman will connect Customers with Big Sky country, bringing faster access to Yellowstone National Park, Big Sky Ski Resort, Custer Gallatin National Forest, and Montana State University. Southwest Customers may now book travel to fly nonstop between Bozeman and both Denver and Las Vegas, and reach southern Montana from more than 50 other Southwest cities on same-plane or connecting service. This new service is available for purchase now:

Fly nonstop between Bozeman and:	Initial daily service:	One-way fares as low as:
Denver	2 flights each way(increases to 4 flights each way on June 6)	$39
Las Vegas	2 flights each way	$39

The number of seats, days, and markets for these fares are limited. See a full list of fares, fare rules, and terms and conditions below.

In 2020, Southwest added new service to Hilo, Hawaii; Cozumel, Mexico; Miami; Palm Springs, Calif.; Steamboat Springs; and Montrose(Telluride), Colo., to connect Customers with places and people they love. In 2021, Southwest began service to both Chicago (O’Hare) and Sarasota/Bradenton on Feb. 14. The carrier will begin service to both Savannah/Hilton Head and Colorado Springs on March 11; both Houston(Bush) and Santa Barbara, Calif. on April 12; Fresno, Calif. on April 25; Destin/Ft. Walton Beach on May 6; Bozeman, Mont. on May 27; and Jackson, Miss. on June 6.

Aeromexico Announces New Agreements with Medical Laboratories

February 21, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Mexico City, February 19, 2021- Aeromexico has signed agreements with four medical laboratories, in addition to the two it already formalized to offer discounts and other benefits on Covid-19 tests for customers with a valid reservation with the airline or partner Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL).

Operating in Monterrey and metropolitan area:

Laboratorios Dr. Moreira with 28 Covid-19 branches.
Swisslab Laboratorio de Analisis Clínicos with 19 Covid-19 branches. Operating in Mexico City and metropolitan area:

Olive Diagnosticos Medicos with 22 Covid-19 branches.
Biomedica with 13 Covid-19 locations.

In addition to special discounts for PCR and Rapid tests for Antigen Detection, customers will have access to other benefits: an exclusive helpline for Aeromexico and Delta Air Lines clients, bilingual advisors, delivery of results in Spanish or English, and at-home service. Club Premier members will also have an exclusive phone line and at-home service at no additional cost.

The results will be delivered 24 hours for PCR tests and 30 minutes for Rapid tests for Antigen Detection.

Laboratorio Medico del Chopo and LAPI Laboratorio Medico continue to offer their services with specific benefits for Aeromexico and Delta passengers.

Aeromexico recommends customers with an international flight to check the destinations’ requirements at the following link: Country Requirements

To consult the details of laboratories’ agreements, click on Laboratory Alliances

Air Côte d’Ivoire Receives its First Airbus A320neo

February 18, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Toulouse, 18 February 2021 – Air Côte d’Ivoire, Ivory Coast’s flagship carrier based in Abidjan, has taken delivery of its first A320neo, becoming the first operator of the type in the West-African region. This latest generation aircraft will join Air Côte d’Ivoire’s existing Airbus fleet of six aircraft.

With improved levels of efficiency, this new aircraft will be deployed on Air Côte d’Ivoire’s regional network to serve Senegal, Gabon, and Cameroon. Destinations like South Africa will be added at a later stage, highlighting the operational flexibility of the A320neo. Powered by CFM International LEAP-1A engines, the aircraft is configured in a comfortable two-class layout with 16 seats in Business and 132 seats in Economy Class. Passengers will benefit from the widest cabin of any single-aisle aircraft, high-speed Internet connectivity and latest generation in-flight entertainment system.

Air Cote d’Ivoire’s first A320neo took off from Toulouse carrying 1 tonne of humanitarian goods including medical equipment and toys. In partnership with Aviation sans Frontières and the Airbus Foundation, the mission is part of Air Côte d’Ivoire’s corporate social responsibility initiative. The transported goods will serve local NGOs in Abidjan, thus supporting the education and health sector in the country.

Air Cote d’Ivoire has a fleet of 10 aircraft, including three A319s and three A320s, serving 25 domestic and regional destinations in West and Central Africa.

The A320neo Family incorporates the very latest technologies including new generation engines, Sharklets and aerodynamics, which together deliver 20% in fuel savings and CO2 reduction. The A320neo Family has won 7,450 orders from nearly 120 customers.

Air New Zealand’s Wellington Regional Lounge Re-Opens Today

February 4, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

To accommodate strong domestic demand the regional lounge will be open on weekdays, in addition to the Wellington domestic lounge which is open as per usual, and remains open for customers travelling on weekends and public holidays.

Air New Zealand Senior Manager Global Lounges and Valet Alison Swarbrick says the airline is looking forward to welcoming customers back to the popular regional lounge.

“It’s great to see Kiwis travel their own country and we’re pleased to be open again to provide our customers with a comfortable place to enjoy refreshments and relax ahead of their departure.

“Our refreshed summer menu has been very popular in our other ports and now Wellington regional customers will get the chance to try some of our new menu items like house-made immunity boost juices, vegetarian pita pockets and raw cacao and coconut bars.”

Wellington Airport Chief Executive Steve Sanderson says now domestic passenger numbers are picking up again, it’s great to see things getting closer to normal in the terminal.

“Our regular travellers will arrive and depart from the gates they were used to pre-COVID. They will also be able to enjoy more regular terminal entertainment and faster security screening following the roll out of new Smart Lanes by Aviation Security at the end of last year.”

Qantas Group Targets Domestic Growth with Alliance Airlines Capacity Deal

February 3, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

A new deal with Alliance Airlines will help the Qantas Group meet an expected surge in local tourism demand once the country moves beyond sudden COVID-related border closures. Alliance will provide the QantasLink network with flexible capacity using its recently acquired Embraer E190 aircraft – a 94 seat jet with a five hour range that is well suited to linking regional centres with smaller capital cities.

Initial routes that Alliance will fly are expected to include Adelaide–Alice Springs, Darwin–Alice Springs and Darwin–Adelaide. Passengers can expect an increase in frequency made possible by the size, range and economics of the E190 compared to the Boeing 737’s that are currently used on these routes; the 737’s will be redeployed elsewhere in Australia as part an ongoing ‘right aircraft, right route’ approach to the Group’s network.

Qantas has signed a three year deal with Alliance to access three E190’s based in Darwin and Adelaide. The timing will depend on the rate of recovery in travel demand but is currently expected to start in June 2021, once the vast majority of the Qantas Domestic flying has returned to pre-COVID levels.

The agreement also provides flexibility to access an additional 11 (for a total of 14) E190 regional jets, but also to switch off some (or all) of this capacity, depending on market conditions.

CEO of QantasLink, John Gissing, said the deal reflected the kind of flexibility needed to respond to opportunities without committing any capital.

The E190 offers 10 seats in Business Class and 84 seats in Economy, with a range of about 4,500 kilometres.

Qantas owns just under 20 per cent of Alliance Airlines.

Satena Optimises Fleet Support With ATR Global Maintenance Agreement

February 1, 2021 / WIL BALDWIN

Colombian airline signs five year contract for its seven aircraft ATR fleet

ATR and SATENA announce the signing of a Global Maintenance Agreement (GMA) contract covering: onsite stock, Standard Exchange, Line Replaceable Unit repair and propeller blades. SATENA are an existing ATR operator but this is the first time they have chosen ATR’s GMA for their fleet support. Owned and managed by the Colombian Air Force, SATENA provides essential connectivity throughout the country, providing links to communities and economies, supporting growth and development. For 20 years, through the GMA, ATR has contributed to reducing operators’ maintenance costs and boosting their operations.

The team of SATENA said: “Choosing the ATR GMA means that we will benefit from the manufacturer’s expertise, which brings many advantages. The COVID pandemic has highlighted how essential regional aviation continues to be for passengers, making reliability more important than ever. Our passengers need to know that they can rely on us, so we need to know that we can rely on our fleet. Selecting the ATR GMA ensures that we have the right infrastructure in place to optimise our operations. The availability and depth of support offered by the GMA makes it the best option available for ATR operators and the right choice for us.”

David Brigante, SVP Programmes and Customer Service of ATR commented: “Everyone is aware of the challenges that airlines are currently facing, so when in the midst of this situation an operator such as SATENA, who is dedicated to supplying essential connectivity, puts their faith in us by choosing our GMA it is something of which we can be immensely proud. SATENA helps Colombians living in remote areas link to larger hubs, allowing them to access economic or educational opportunities or connect with their friends and family. As a manufacturer, ATR’s mission is the same: to create a tool that supports communities by connecting them. This shared vision is why we have always been proud to count SATENA as an operator and why we are now especially pleased that they have chosen our GMA.

Visiting Sky Lagoon

The Ritual

Geothermal bliss

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