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Code sharing with Cathay Pacific expands
British Airways and its oneworld alliance partner, Cathay Pacific Airways, are expanding their code-sharing agreement to cover Kuala Lumpur, Auckland and eleven destinations in Europe.From January 7, British Airways' BA code will be added to Cathay Pacific's daily services between Hong Kong and both Kuala Lumpur and Auckland. With British Airways' twice-daily flights to Hong Kong from London, this will make travel easier between Britain, Malaysia and New Zealand.The code-share also marks an important step for British Airways which will now be able to return the Malaysian capital to its timetable, having suspended the route earlier this year due to mounting losses.
Cathay's CX code will be placed on British Airways' flights linking London Heathrow with eleven European destinations - Newcastle, Aberdeen, Stockholm, Helsinki, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Munich, Berlin, Cologne, Stuttgart, Prague providing smoother connections from Cathay Pacific's two daily Hong Kong services.
Code-sharing between the two carriers was first launched in March 2000. These eleven new destinations take the total number of code-share routes to 14.These new code-sharing arrangements open for sale today, Monday, December 17.Michael Jackson, British Airways' Head of Alliances and Franchises said: " We are delighted to announce this new code sharing agreement with our oneworld partner. It reflects how the two airlines are constantly striving to find new opportunities to work together in the interests of all our customers. We're particularly pleased that this also gives us the chance to return Kuala Lumpur to our timetable." Chitty Cheung, Cathay Pacific's General Manager Alliance said: ''Today's code-share is good news for passengers in both Europe and Asia. In addition to new destinations passengers will find connections much more convenient now thanks to oneworld.''
Airline wins top language award
London, December 11 2001:
British Airways has just won a major business award for its services to non-English speaking customers - as well as its language programmes for schools and community groups.Judges of the Government backed National Languages for Export Award 2001 were particularly impressed with the airline's policy of employing cabin crew with language skills.
They were also impressed by the range of language support available in 23 tongues and by the services provided by Briish Airways Visitors Services, which assists passengers in 50 different languages.The airline was also praised for "its consistent and effective implementation of a comprehensive language policy across a large company." Professor Stephen Hagen, a language adviser to the competition organisers, said: "This is an excellent example of a company acknowledging that you're more likely to succeed in business if you make an effort to understand local cultures, practices and speak the local language."The award was specifically won by British Airways' Community Learning Centre, which has promoted languages through schools and colleges since it was established in 1999.Manuela Minger, Languages Project Manager at British Airways, said: "We cannot ignore that 60% of our customers do not have English as their first language without putting our business at risk."Winning this award is fantastic for the British Airways Community Learning Centre - it also recognises all the excellent work and effort that a lot of people across serval departments have put in over the years.
"It acknowledges the fact that this is a unique programme which is valued within the company and in the wider community."The awards were organised by Trade Partners UK - a Government body which provides support services for UK companies trading overseas, and seeks to promote the importance of languages and cultural awareness for trade.
Ends December 11, 2001
Suspension of services on three Far East routes
Hong Kong, 11 December, 2001: British Airways today announced that it will be suspending its services from Hong Kong to Manila and Taipei from 4th March 2002. The suspension of these routes represents part of a series of measures which have been taken by British Airways to address the downturn in the airline industry in recent months and is in line with the airline's strategy of reducing capacity. British Airways has also announced that it will be suspending flights BA11 and BA12, the three times weekly terminator service from London to Singapore. These flights will be suspended from summer 2003. The airline will continue to operate twice-daily flights from London to Singapore.
Mark Russell, General Manager East Asia for British Airways, said "The current difficult market conditions for the whole of the aviation industry means that we must take firm action in order to protect our business. Despite the suspension of our flights to Manila and Taipei, British Airways remains committed to maintaining our network in Asia. We will continue to offer our passengers efficient and convenient services to and from London to these destinations via connections with our oneworld alliance partner over Hong Kong." Services affected by the suspension are the 4 times per week flights between Hong Kong and Manila, and the 3 times per week flights between Hong Kong and Taipei, operated by British Asia Airways.Passengers who have already booked to fly with British Airways on these routes after 4th March 2002, will be automatcally transferred to flights operated by British Airways' oneworld alliance partner."British Airways will continue to serve our customers in the Philippines and Taiwan through our sales and marketing offices based in the two countries. Frequent connections exist between these markets and our double daily 747 service from Hong Kong to London, meaning that we can offer fast easy connections to London and beyond via Hong Kong.
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