Travel Weekly strongly condones the food focus of this week’s Airline Wrap. In fact, our support is so strong we’ve chosen to take an extra lunch break today.

British Airways welcomes its new A350 Aircraft and unveils its new business class ‘Club Suite’

British Airways has unveiled its highly-anticipated new business class seat – ‘Club Suite’ – and confirmed it will arrive on the first of its A350 aircraft in July.

The airline’s sophisticated and newly-branded ‘Club Suite’ offers direct-aisle access, a suite door for greater privacy and luxurious flat-bed seats in a 1-2-1 configuration. Boasting 40 per cent more storage, including a vanity unit and mirror, WiFi, enviable 18.5-inch inflight entertainment screens*, high definition gate-to-gate programming, and PC / USB power; every aspect of British Airways’ Club Suite has been designed for today’s customer.

The A350 aircraft itself will also promote a feeling of well-being, space and calm due to its reduced noise levels, high ceilings and ambient lighting which is intended to compliment the time of day and outside light. Customers will leave their flight feeling rested thanks to higher levels of humidity and refreshed air as the cabin pressure is equivalent to an altitude of just 6,000 feet. There are also environmental benefits to flying on the state-of the-art A350 as 25 per cent lower fuel burn significantly reduces CO2 emissions.

Qatar Airways All-Female Flight Wins Praise From European Policymakers

Qatar Airways celebrated a landmark flight on Sunday 10 March as its scheduled service from Brussels to Doha was operated by a crew made up entirely of 15 women.

The Airbus A350 flight from the Belgian capital to the airline’s hub in Qatar was the first time all crew members – from the cockpit right through to the cabin – had a 100 per cent female roster.

The airline recently announced a ten-year partnership with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for the launch of the ‘IATA Diversity & Inclusion Awards’, which promote greater gender diversification in the aviation industry.

Qatar Airways has committed to supporting the awards for the next decade, as it recognises the need to encourage women to succeed and excel at all levels of the industry. The first winners will be announced at the IATA AGM in June.

Freshness guaranteed by Cathay Pacific

Cathay Pacific congratulates Cathay Pacific Services Limited (CPSL), its wholly-owned subsidiary, on becoming one of the first organisations to be awarded IATA CEIV Fresh certification, a globally-recognised perishable product handling accreditation.

The certification, which was also awarded to the Hong Kong Airport Authority at the IATA World Cargo Symposium earlier today, underscores the speed, consistency and efficiency of all stakeholders in Hong Kong International Airport when it comes to the treatment and transportation of perishable products.

Cathay Pacific is working to become the world’s first airline to be CEIV Fresh certified, in May 2019.

In harness with aviation industry stakeholders and regulators, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) created the Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) with the aim of helping organisations involved in the air cargo supply chain achieve handling excellence.

Emirates to launch second daily flight to London Stansted

Emirates has announced the launch of a second daily flight from Dubai (DXB) to London Stansted (STN) starting 1st July 2019.

The additional flight means that Australians flying with Emirates will now have 11 daily flight options to and from three London airports. The change will enable convenient connection times of less than approximately two and a half hours from Brisbane and Melbourne when travelling through Dubai.

As with the first, the second daily flight to Stansted will also be operated by Emirates’ ‘game-changing’ Boeing 777-300ER aircraft in a three-class configuration with 6 private suites in First Class, 42 fully-flat beds in Business Class and 306 seats in Economy Class.

The aircraft offers Australians an enriched travel experience across all cabins with newly designed seats and upgraded inflight entertainment systems. Australian customers will also enjoy new levels of comfort with fully enclosed private suites in First Class as well as refreshed Business and Economy Class cabins.

Vietnam Airlines upgrades airport navigation tool

Vietnam Airlines has added a series of 67 airport maps including 9 domestic and 58 global maps to help passengers breeze through the gates, lounges and shops, as it continues investing in technology to enhance airport experience.

By incorporating InMapz, the no 1 indoor maps app, into Vietnam Airlines mobile app, the carrier is the first Asia-based airline to offer digital wayfinding airport maps and has more maps than any other airline in the world.

Available on iOS and Android, the airport maps will be available on the free Vietnam Airlines app and Vietnam Airlines website. Customers are provided with a clear and detailed view of their surroundings via their phones from check-in and departures right through to baggage collection.

Singapore Airlines Partners with COMO Shambhala to Enhance Wellness Cuisine in Travel

Singapore Airlines and Singapore-based wellness brand COMO Shambhala, which forms part of the COMO Group, signed a Memorandum of Understanding last week on a wide-ranging partnership aimed at enhancing the customer experience for travellers.

The initial phase of the partnership will see COMO Shambhala’s award-winning wellness cuisine introduced on selected Singapore Airlines flights departing Singapore in the second half of this year, elevating the Airline’s range of food and beverage offerings on board.

Using seasonal and sustainable ingredients each with their own nutrition profile, this style of cooking aims to inspire the palate with memorable and delicious flavours, marrying healthy eating with pleasurable gastronomy.

The inclusion of co-developed wellness dishes will progressively be made available in SIA’s Book the Cook service. In addition, a new wellness menu featuring specially curated dishes will be introduced.

Future collaborations may also extend to on-board amenities, as well as in-flight entertainment content relating to wellness, among others.