Monday 28 July 2008: Virgin Blue Airlines today announced it will commence flying between Melbourne and Auckland with daily return services starting from 22 September, 2008.*

The new trans-Tasman flights will be operated by Virgin Blue’s international subsidiary Pacific Blue using 180-seat, Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

Seats on the new trans-Tasman service go on sale from 11.00am (AEST) today with special one-way launch fares of NZ$179* from Auckland to Melbourne and AU$199* from Melbourne to Auckland (including taxes, fees and charges).

The launch fares for travel between 22 September and 13 December, 2008 are on sale until midnight 31 July or until sold out, and are available via the airline’s web site (www.virginblue.com.au). ...

Qantas announced today that it would take delivery of its first A380 aircraft on 19 September 2008.

The Executive General Manager of Qantas, Mr John Borghetti, said the airline would welcome its first A380 aircraft into the Qantas fleet at a ceremony at Airbus' Toulouse factory and fly it via Singapore to Sydney, where it will land on Sunday morning, 21 September.

Mr Borghetti reconfirmed that Qantas would operate its first A380 commercial passenger service from Melbourne to Los Angeles on 20 October 2008, and its first Sydney-Los Angeles service on 24 October.

"This is the first of 20 A380s to join the Qantas fleet, with a total of three being delivered by the end of 2008," he said.

"We will be progressively introducing A380 services from Sydney to London via Singapore from early 2009."

Mr Borghetti said the Qantas A380 would offer the airline’s customers the best cabin design in the sky.

"Our Creative Director, world-renowned industrial designer Marc Newson, has overseen the design and development of all four classes on board - First, Business, Premium Economy and Economy - and all cabins will provide new levels of comfort, innovation, and style," Mr Borghetti said.

"The A380 is an exciting addition to the Qantas fleet, and our customers and staff are all eagerly awaiting its arrival."

QANTAS has suspended two New Zealand cabin crew after a drunken night during which a female flight attendant set off a fire alarm and caused the evacuation of a five-star hotel in Queenstown.

Many of about 200 guests at the Crowne Plaza hotel were dragged from their beds and sent into the street and two fire engines rushed to the hotel after a fire-alarm access point was smashed on July 31.

The false alarm cost the flight attendant $1500 to cover damages and the cost of the call-out.

Crowne Plaza boss Brett Wilson told New Zealand publication Mountain Scene: "Someone smashed one of the alarm call points after a big night out. We know exactly who it was and the guest has been charged $1500 for the call-out fee and to fix the call point.

"It was a fairly big stuff-up by the guest and when she was asked why she did it, she said she had no idea and she was upset and disappointed with herself. She left next day."

Mr Wilson said the matter had been dealt with by a senior colleague and the company had taken a dim view of the incident.

He said the other guests had been far from happy with the evacuation.

"We were about 75 per cent full, so that's about 200 people, and we aim to get everyone out in about three minutes," Mr Wilson said. "(The guests) were very disgruntled."

Qantas said yesterday it was still investigating two crew members involved in incidents in Queenstown.

A spokeswoman said flight QF2783 from Queenstown to Christchurch on July 31 was delayed because of technical problems.

She said crew were accommodated at a nearby hotel and scheduled to fly out the following morning.

"Following an incident at the hotel, two cabin crew members were stood down pending an investigation," the spokeswoman said. "Replacement cabin crew subsequently operated the service."

The second flight attendant is believed to be a male staffer involved in a separate incident.

"This lounge in Sydney is the flagship for Qantas. Designed by Australian Marc Newson, the lounge concept for both product and staff service has been modelled around the finest quality you would expect to find in a 5-star hotel or restaurant, and the best part is that the concept is being so well delivered by Qantas" added Plaisted.

Last year's winner of the award, Thai Airways First Class lounge at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, remains well placed in 2nd for 2008, ahead of Qatar Airways First Class Premium Terminal at Doha Airport (3rd), Lufthansa's exclusive First Class lounge in Frankfurt Airport (4th) and a consistent achiever in the World Airline Awards, Cathay Pacific Airways First Class lounge at Hong Kong International Airport in 5th place. ...