businesstraveller.comUPFRONT
MARCH 201914
AIR FRANCE
MEANS BUSINESS
AIR FRANCE HAS UNVEILED the new business class
cabins that will be found on all of its A330s by 2020.
The Equinox 2D seats by Stelia Aerospace increase
seat width by one inch, and introduce a fully-flat
recline, sliding panels for privacy and bigger IFE
screens, although remain in a 2-2-2 configuration.
The retrofit should please Air France’s new chief
executive, Ben Smith, who was appointed last August
and is on a mission to take the airline upmarket. He
recently lamented that his was “the only major
company that does not yet offer a consistent product
like fully-flat beds in business class”.
Smith has also signalled the end of millennial-oriented subsidiary Joon, calling
it “difficult to understand”, and announced the rebranding of regional subsidiary
Hop as Air France Hop. More changes likely lie ahead.NEW ISTANBUL AIRPORT
FULLY OPERATIONAL
ISTANBUL’S NEW AIRPORT IS SCHEDULED to open fully on March 3, two months
later than planned. The site spans 7,650 hectares and is initially expected to handle
90 million passengers annually, eventually expanding to a capacity of 200 million,
which will make it one of the biggest airports in the world. The move will see it take
over all commercial flights from the city’s overcrowded Ataturk airport. “As a major hub
at the intersection of Asia, Europe and the Middle East, we will bring the world closer
together,” said Kadri Samsunlu, chief executive of operator IGA Airport.BRITS ABROAD
Recent research suggests UK travellers could do
with brushing up on etiquette when overseas50%
don’t know that a “thumbs up” is
offensive in some countries63%
are unaware that the hand gesture for “OK” has an
alternative meaning in some places70%
have no idea that it is rude to sit
with crossed legs in Dubai92%
aren’t confident about how much
to tip when eating out abroad14%
regularly research local customs before travellingSource: Travelbag survey of 1,000 UK adults
conducted by market research company One Poll