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Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Whispering Over The Other Side

Every cuts that bears on my skin, it feels like a little part of me being consumed unwillingly. But there isn't any choice for me. The sweet sounds of torturing singing within. I let him love me and let it be my story. It defies all my word when it comes to solitude. There is a deep part of me, just needed a hand to hold.

The givers heart breaks and the helplessness eats him up inside. My recklessness causes everything that I wanted to avoid. But I knew it was a genuine concerns and love extended to give strength. I let myself soaking in that pool of selfishness. And I couldn't feel it was right or wrong.

With now the only thing I have is being one with IT. Letting IT overpowering my will. I am still holding on. For now.. I guess it is still alright. But the wave is strong. I feel it coming my way. And here I am, finding that last beautiful part of darkness and be as one. The blood in my veins are like sharp needles, and somehow, reminding me, "This is what being alive is.".. I am not afraid of death, I welcome them as an equal. But the only fear is seeing the loved ones crumbling over the high walls.

And all I ever wanted is just keeping to be alive.



Whispering...
Hear the ghosts in the moonlight.
Sorrow doing a new dance
Through their bone, through their skin.

Listening—
To the souls in the fool's night.
Fumbling mutely with their rude hands...
And there's heartache without end...

See the father bent in grief,
The mother dressed in mourning.
Sister crumbles,
And the neighbors grumble.
The preacher issues warnings...

History...
Little miss didn't do right.
Went and ruined all the true plans—
Such a shame, such a sin.

Mystery...
Home alone on a school night.
Harvest moon over the blue land,
Summer longing on the wind...

Had a sweetheart on his knees,
So faithful and adoring.
And he touched me,
And I let him love me.
So let that be my story...

Listening...
For the hope, for the new life—
Something beautiful, a new chance.
Hear, it's whispering,
There, again...

Me You And The Music - Review

Jessica Sanchez's 2013 major-label debut, Me, You & the Music, creates a showcase for the 2012 American Idol runner-up's big, soulful voice and contemporary pop style. Working with a handful of producers including Toby Gad, J.R. Rotem, the Benassi Bros. and the Underdogs, Sanchez delivers a batch of high-energy, dance-oriented R&B cuts that frame her robust vocals.

She unabashedly takes her cues from other modern pop divas, whether she’s channeling the brassy soul of Beyoncé or the bright, nasal shouts of Rihanna. These comparisons shouldn't come as a surprise. During her time on AmIdol it was noted how much she sounded like Rihanna, and the sentiment sticks on this album -- though Sanchez might have a better vocal instrument than her forebear.

Sanchez and her producers even go so far as to cover Tom Petty's 1985 hit, "Don't Come Around Here No More" (retitled "Don't Come Around"), shifting its style away from its Beatles psych-pop origins to a very Rihanna-esque midtempo club number, replete with Jamaican-ized dancehall enunciation. Which isn't to say that the track, or the album for that matter, is bad. On the contrary, much of Me, You & the Music is pristinely crafted and undeniably catchy; music that will appeal to fans of the post-Mariah Carey school of pop melisma and R&B.

It also doesn't hurt that Sanchez gets a bit of support on the album via big name guest appearances from singers like Ne-Yo and Prince Royce. Ultimately, even if Me, You & the Music isn’t the most original-sounding album, it’s still one of the more efficient platforms for introducing an American Idol contestant to the charts than any we’ve seen before.

But is it a Grammy worthy album? I say pretty much not. On my personal view, she has the instrument to soar with better and much more personal tracks. For most of the albums release by Idol Alum, my top picks is still Side Effects Of You By Fantasia Barrino. For now, I will be looking forward to David Cook's upcoming album. His latest single Laying Me Low is pretty good. I like what I hear. But for the album, we just gotta wait a little longer.





My pick through the album

The Air France A380 Takes Off For Shanghai


As from 2 September, Air France will offer its customers three weekly services to Shanghai-Pudong by Airbus A380. Air France will therefore become the first European airline to serve the Chinese economic capital by A380.

On board its Airbus A380, Air France offers customers four cabin classes (La Première, Business, Premium Economy and Economy) as well as several exclusive new features for a unique travel experience and even more comfort:
  • 6 bars for a friendly atmosphere during the flight,
  • 5 decibels less noise in the cabin compared with industry standards,
  • A gallery dedicated to art and culture.

“Serving Shanghai by Airbus A380 is a perfect example of our aim to expand on growth markets. On board, we aim to provide all our customers with the levels of comfort, serenity and French-style service excellence that distinguishes Air France worldwide. This new route by A380 demonstrates the excellent cooperation between the French and Chinese aviation authorities, which have made this agreement possible.” underlined Alexandre de Juniac, Chairman and CEO of Air France.

Dedicated services for Chinese customers

Air France has created a range of services specifically tailored to accommodate its Chinese passengers. Announcements are made in Mandarin on flights to and from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Wuhan and in Cantonese for Hong Kong flights. Chinese interpreters are present on board all Air France flights to and from China.

To welcome and provide assistance to passengers who do not speak English or French, Air France has a team of multilingual agents at Paris-Charles de Gaulle who speak Mandarin and Cantonese.

The chefs of Air France subsidiary, Servair, the on-board foodservices specialist, develop a range of fine Chinese dishes served in Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy. In addition, jasmine tea is offered in all cabins.

Air France also offers a frequently renewed selection of international films subtitled in Chinese. A Chinese film is also routinely offered.

Air France offers a selection of Chinese newspapers and magazines on board.

Furthermore, Air France has developed a dedicated corporate website for its Chinese customers, http://corporate.airfrance.cn. Available in Simplified and Traditional Chinese, this website provides all the main Air France news from Greater China and around the world.

European leader between China and Europe

The Air France-KLM Group is European leader between Europe and China. Air France and KLM operate 93 weekly flights from their hubs at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol to 9 destinations in Greater China: Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Chengdu,Hangzhou, Wuhan, Xiamen and Taipei.

With its partners China Southern and China Eastern, Air France-KLM offers up to 126 weekly flights to China.

Flight schedules

In summer 2013, Air France serves Shanghai-Pudong from Paris-Charles de Gaulle with 27 weekly flights, thirteen of which are operated on a code-share basis with China Eastern Airlines, a member of SkyTeam.

The Air France A380 in brief

6 destinations in September 2013

  • In September 2013, Air France’s eight Airbus A380 will serve six destinations:
  • in North America: New York JFK (one daily flight), Washington DC (one daily flight) and Los Angeles (one daily flight),
  • in Africa: Johannesburg (one daily flight),
  • in Asia: Tokyo-Narita (one daily flight) and Shanghai (3 weekly flights).

516 seats in four cabins
  • All Air France’s A380 are equipped with 516 seats in four cabin classes on two decks:
  • 9 seats in La Première,
  • 80 seats in Business,
  • 38 seats in Premium Eco,
  • and 389 seats in Economy.
Comfort on board
  • 6 bars for a friendly atmosphere during the flight
  • 200 windows: abundant natural light in the cabin
  • 5 decibels less noise in the cabin compared with industry standards
  • A gallery dedicated to art and culture

The latest technology at the service of in-flight entertainment and comfort
External live images with three cameras housed at the front, underneath and at the rear of the aircraft, whose images are broadcast live throughout the flight.
Mood lighting; changing lighting moods to cross time zones without feeling tired.

One of the most environmentally friendly aircraft

With less than 75 grams of CO2 produced per passenger per kilometre, the A380 is one of the most environmentally friendly aircraft.

Special attention for Chinese passengers

CREWS TRAINED IN CHINESE CULTURE

Air France has created a service specifically tailored to accommodate its Chinese passengers. The company has established an outreach program on Chinese culture for its 15,000 flight attendants. This program reflects Air France’s constant search for excellence, hospitality and service as do the languages spoken aboard flights: announcements are broadcast in Mandarin on the flights to and from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Wuhan and in Cantonese for Hong Kong flights. In addition, for more than 10 years, Chinese interpreters have been on board all Air France flights from and to China.

GROUND STAFF WHO SPEAK MANDARIN

To welcome and provide assistance to passengers who do not speak English or French, Air France has a team of multilingual agents at Paris-Charles de Gaulle, speaking Mandarin and Cantonese. The team welcomes daily passengers, assisting them with checking-in and facilitates their connections between flights. Knowledge of the travellers’ languages and cultures makes it easier to exchange and establish immediate and natural contact.

MOBILE SERVICES IN CHINESE

Air France customers benefit from an exclusive, free service, requiring no registration or subscription, informing them of changes or any disruptions in their journey. The “Air France Connect” service is also now available in Chinese.

With a mobile phone number and e-mail address indicated by the customer when purchasing their ticket, Air France can provide information up to 14 days prior to departure, by telephone, SMS or e-mail, regarding flight cancellations or delays, gate changes or delays in delivery of luggage following the flight. Air France and KLM are the first airlines providing such large-scale proactive information services to all passengers throughout their network. To be notified personally in case of emergency on a flight, customers only need to ensure that they have provided the company with the maximum contact information for the communications modes (telephone, mobile or e-mail) the customer will use during the trip.

CHINESE CUISINE ON BOARD

Air France places particular emphasis on openness to other cultures, taking into account the tastes of its passengers. While providing a French dining experience, Air France pays attention to adapting its menus to the culture or dietary needs of its customers. For Chinese customers, the chefs of Air France subsidiary, Servair, the on-board foodservices specialist, develop a range of fine Chinese dishes served in Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy. In addition, jasmine tea is offered in all cabins.

FILMS AND INFORMATION IN MANDARIN

For its Chinese passengers, Air France offers a frequently renewed selection of international films subtitled in Chinese. A Chinese film also is routinely offered. The selection changes every three months with the language of the films alternating between Mandarin and Cantonese.

CHINESE NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES ON BOARD

A Chinese version of the Air France flight magazine is available to passengers and a regular selection of Chinese newspapers and magazines is also available on each flight.

A DEDICATED CORPORATE WEBSITE FOR CHINESE CUSTOMERS

Air France has developed a dedicated corporate website for its Chinese customers, http://corporate.airfrance.cn. Available in Simplified and Traditional Chinese, this website provides all the main Air France news from Greater China and around the world, including regular updates on company strategy, a map of the Air France, KLM and their Chinese partners’ networks, the art of travel with Air France, the ambitions of the company in terms of sustainable development and the latest press releases and press kits.






Monday, April 29, 2013

The Originals - CW's New Hit Series

"The Originals" has been picked up for a full season!

"The Vampire Diaries" spinoff, which aired its backdoor pilot on Thursday night, will join its parent show, along with "Supernatural," "Arrow," "Beauty and the Beast" and "Hart of Dixie" for The CW's 2013-2014 TV season.

The Originals is an upcoming American television series that will air on The CW during the 2013–14 American television season. The Originals is a spin-off from The Vampire Diaries focusing on the Mikaelson siblings, who are also three of the world's original vampires, Klaus (Joseph Morgan), Elijah (Daniel Gillies) and Rebekah (Claire Holt) in New Orleans. It was revealed during the backdoor pilot aired on April 25, 2013 that recurring character Hayley (Phoebe Tonkin) is pregnant with Klaus's child.Now Klaus must take down his prodigy, Marcel, who is now in charge of New Orleans in order to keep his family safe.

As soon as we saw last night's episode of ''The Vampire Diaries,' we knew we wanted more of 'The Originals' -- Julie Plec and Kevin Williamson have done a fantastic job with 'The Vampire Diaries,' which is as fast-paced and well-written as ever, and Julie has created an equally compelling world for 'The Originals,'" Mark Pedowitz, president of The CW, said of "The Originals" series order in a statement.

The CW's decision to pick up "The Originals" is not particularly surprising, considering the success of "The Vampire Diaries." However, the pilot did not impress in the ratings.

Fans of "The Originals" may be celebrating the pick up, but they'll have to wait until at least September (if not later) to find out how the rest of the story unfolds.

Are you happy "The Originals" got picked up? Will you watch? Sound off in the comments if you guys are obsessed with The Vampire Diaries!

Celine Dion Forth English Album Water And A Flame

In the video, the producer makes it sound like this is Celine Dion's tune but this is Daniel Merriweather's song. It's on his album Love & War and it features Adele. I think they should have mentioned this in the video. But.... that didn't kill my anticipation on her upcoming new album releasing in Oct 2013. More reasons for me to keep an eye on iTunes.

The minute-long clip shows Dion laying down vocals in Jupiter, FL's Echo Beach Studios, with guidance from famed producer Eg White (Florence + the Machine's "Ceremonials," Adele's "19"). They're working on a soulful new track that the producer describes as, "a love song, but more bitter than that. It's got a more annoyed edge to it."

Tentatively titled "Water and a Flame," the new Dion album is expected for an October release. It will be her first English studio album since 2007's "Taking Chances," and 25th studio album overall.

Last month, Billboard reported that R&B singer Ne-Yo had written and sung on a duet on the new album.

Sunday, April 28, 2013

MH Free Seats For Kids

Family trips are now more affordable with Malaysia Airlines. From 29 April, just purchase an adult seat in Economy Class and receive a complimentary seat for any child aged 12 or below.

Book now with your favourite travel agent or nearest Malaysia Airlines ticket office, or call 1 300 88 3000.

Extra 10kg baggage allowance

Our baggage allowance for Economy Class is now 30kg. That means you and your child can carry more of your favourite things!

Terms and conditions
  • Booking period: 29 Apr 2013 to 20 May 2013.
  • Travel period: 29 Apr 2013 to 31 May 2013.
  • Eligibility: For every paying adult, one accompanied child or infant is entitled to fly for free.
  • Valid for Economy Class purchases only.
  • Not applicable for promotional fares.
  • Complimentary child ticket applicable for first accompanied child. For second child onwards, normal fares will apply.
  • Valid for all international sectors, except for Kuala Lumpur-Kathmandu, Kuala Lumpur-Mumbai, Kuala Lumpur-Chennai, Kuala Lumpur-Bangalore and all domestic sectors.
  • Promotion is not applicable during peak periods, demand flights and subject to seat availability.
  • Not applicable for online bookings. Bookings can be made via travel agents, Malaysia Airlines ticket office or by calling 1 300 88 3000.

China Southern Launches A380 To Sydney

China Southern is the 4th airline to fly the A380 to Australia
China Southern airline has announced that its Airbus A380 super jumbos will inaugurate its new route between Sydney and Guangzhou when it launches on October 27.

It is the fourth airlines to use the world’s largest plane on flights to Australia, following Qantas, Emirates and Singapore Airlines.

Later this year, Royal Brunei are set to unveil their use of Boeing’s rival airliner, the Dreamliner, following its commercial flight relaunch during April.

Tourism Australia is investing $15.7 million in marketing campaigns with 20 airlines during 2013, with the aim of boosting Australian air transit 50 percent from 2010 levels.

"These are state of the art planes," said China Southern executive Chen Gang, who added that the airlines was planning to utilise 400 English-speaking cabin crew across its network.

He said that a 72-hour visa-free stay policy was awaiting approval:

"Our Canton Route is the new and exciting way for Australians to fly and we are absolutely thrilled that they will soon be able to stop over in a vibrant city with a free transit permit to try some Cantonese yum cha and enjoy the local culture," he said.

The launch was announced at the annual Australian Tourism Exchange in Sydney on Saturday.

SriLankan Airlines Close To Announce An Order For 4 A350 XWB



State-run Sri Lankan Airlines will acquire 6 Airbus A350-900 and 7 A330-300 aircraft to upgrade its product and cut costs starting from October 2014, chief executive Kapila Chandrasena said.

Sri Lankan will acquire 10 aircraft from Airbus through a mix of operating and finance leases in a deal which has a 'present value' of 1.2 billion US dollars and another 3 from an aircraft leasing firm, he said.

Cabinet approval has been given to sign a memorandum of understanding with Airbus for 10 purchase options and the first aircraft is expected to arrive starting from October 2014, he said.

2014-2022. The aircraft are to be delivered over 7 years.

Starting from 2014, 6 A340 aircraft which are up to 18 to 16 years old will be replaced by A330-300 aircraft.

7 A330-200 aircraft which are around 13 to 16 years old will be replaced starting from 2017 with A350-900 aircraft. 3 will come from an aviation leasing firm as there were no manufacturing slots available at Airbus in that period.

The balance 4 A350s will be acquired from Airbus Industries starting from 2019.

With several very old aircraft in the fleet, the airline could not give the same level of service to all passengers and operating costs were also high. "Fuel is 50 percent of our operating costs. With newer aircraft fuel is about 40 percent. That is a huge quantum of savings." Chandrasena said.

Beautiful Nightmare

There I was lying on the cold floor, I couldn't feel anything but sharp pains that constantly bleeding me. Everything is twirling around me. I couldn't see it clearly but all I hear was "Hold on there baby, it will go away. Hold on there. I am just right here." whispering into my ears. My mind is just every where. I have no idea what was going on right now and everything went black...

All I am now was lying on a hard bed. I couldn't move. But my hands is holding on to another hand. I wanted to just sit up and know what when wrong. But I felt like I was being bind. Whenever I try to move, something seems to stab into me.

I hear your warm comforting voice beside me. The pain seems secondary. I try to comprehend everything but it doesn't make any sense to me. The helplessness in me just disappear. I felt safe. Like the world completes me. Nothing will come to harm, and I could finally rest in peace.

And there I was, In Cornwall Park over One Tree Hill in Auckland. Just you and me standing on the hill top. It was windy, you held me from behind. And for every reason that is, you whisper into my ears.
See, I told you it will just pass. And I am still here. Even you are resting. 
 Somewhat I knew I am already asleep. Just standing there with you, overlooking Ellerslie. A little small place where I could call home once. Everything doesn't seems right but it doesn't matter. I was safe. The reality raincheck could come much later. I didn't bother to wanna know why in reality and dreams you could just be right here. And I couldn't remember anything else after that.

Every single thing that we have, it feels real. Until today, it is still. And that part of me, wanting to keep me breathing on. I saw you, and still here at this hour, I knew that I wasn't alone to begin with from this day forth. You were just here with me.. right here.. and I am just blessed with a soul to be with me at times like this... I know this sounded really stupid, but I do miss you, every day, and every second of my existence.. Somehow, it just made this journey easier for me to go on.

Don't Let Me Know

As the tiredness sets in, and somehow I am glad. For all the reasons just to have some rest. The past 14 hours is just excruciating and unbearable. But somehow it is over. At least for now it is. I have no idea when will it hit me again, but I just don't wanna go there for now.  The whole time, Michael Buble's new record, To Be Loved accompanying me through. Seeking for some safe place to be. I am at a block, no notes came out from me and starring at the manuscript blank. 

I guess when everything is overwhelmingly too much, everything is just every where. I close my eyes, and letting you tell me all the reasons there is. I know I just gotta do what I gotta do. But everything is just painful. Not emotionally, but what bugs me most is physically. Even writing this, at the back of my mind just kept asking why couldn't I be like anyone out there. I am just another soul who is trying to fit in.

When you feel broken, nothing really seems real to you. Even it was a genuine love and care. Not that I am not grateful of what I have, but just I need some space to figuring out what is next for me. Sounds easy to many maybe, I wished it was too for me. I really wished I knew too what is going on with my body. But I asked myself again, will it be better if I were to know what was it? I am not sure honestly, but from me being me, I sometimes just would let it go. For it to unfold itself, sometimes does more good to me than harm.

I am still working on what I gotta do next. And I am really trying to look past all the pain, the bleeding, and that nauseating feeling all he time. I wanna help myself too, but it is just too heavy for me to hold on right now. Years and years past, and there ain't any straight answer for it. I really careless on how I look right now, but just wondering how long more will this keep going on? and how long more will I have to keep up, as I am really feeling that I am losing every last ounce of strength right now. I just wanted to move on, are there any clearer path for me to take besides medication? I really wanna know.



I wish you were a bad man
I wish you made it easier
I wish you'd done something unforgivable 'Cause holding onto you is that all I can do until
I learn the hands around my throat are my own Don't let me know if it hurts
If it hurts you
I don't want to be your friend that you turn to
That you won't pull me close
But you can't let me go
Don't let me know

I wish I never met you
Now I gotta forget again
I wish you didn't know me
So damn well
Don't tell me that you're scared
Every time that I'm not there
Don't you open up my heart again

Oh, don't let me know if it hurts
If it hurts you
I don't want to be your friend that you turn to
That you won't pull me close
But you can't let go
Don't let me know
Don't let me know If you think there's a chance you can fall again
That you've tried and you've failed to stop loving me

Don't let me know if it hurts
If it hurts you
I don't want to be your friend that you turn to
That you won't pull me close
But you can't let go
Don't let me know

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Am I The Only One

And I try not to think about dinner for one
Close my eyes and pretend that this house is a home
Cause I've got to believe
I'm not the only one

And I try not to dream about finding someone
Who might share all the reasons why love hasn't come
Cause I've got to believe
I'm not the only one

And I keep all my hopes from clouding my eyes
Keep my distance, my chin up, and talk with a smile
Cause I've got to believe there's more than barely

Empty and crawling
Wincing and falling
Back into this skin
Said I'm leaving
It's not what I wanted
The will I keep on

Breathing
Be the only heart beating
There's nothing worse than just feeling
The weight of walking alone
Tell me
I'm not the only one
I'm not the only one
Am I the only one?

I could relate how much this song meant to me. In the library years ago and till today, still kept it. I am trying to let go of myself. But still, I couldn't come to peace with myself. Maybe, I just didn't wanna understand it myself. I wanna get better and I know no matter how much I shout and yell, it ain't gonna be. Not any time soon the least. 

For some reasons, I couldn't face a single soul right now. I didn't feel like talking. But I didn't wanna be alone right now. It is like a war I am fighting inside. And in the end, I chosen solitude. I am tired all the time. I am tired of the bleeding and bruises. I am tired of the constant pain. I am tired of the sharp pain within and now I have to cope the pain from the surface. 

All my mind was just getting myself lost in my own world. But where can I find back those gates? The more I am looking, the more I stood at the place I was. And if that isn't bad enough, it reminds me of every pain that I could feel. I know, pain is inevitable, and suffering is optional. Yet, it is easier said than done. I just couldn't feel what is right any more nor which way I should have choose to go forward. 

I just wish all would be over right now. The more this is holding on to me, the more I am losing my will to keep fighting on. I couldn't see anything any more. And nothing feels real now to me. It is fading, and I wanna fade in with it. But could I really? Could I? I wanna be alive again, but nothing seems real. Besides the medication that I am consuming, nothing feels right at all.

MAS Seeks Code-share With British Airways, Latam Airlines

MAS is currently flying double daily on the KL-London route using an A380, translating to about 900 seats daily, while BA flies to Singapore.
A significant number of oneworld Frequent Flyer Programme (FFP) members taking advantage of the MAS route network to redeem FFP miles. “In addition, our Enrich FFP members are also able to redeem their miles for travel on oneworld alliance airlines.

“We are also seeing an increase in interline and code-share traffic as a result of MAS joining oneworld. MAS is currently working on extending its code-sharing with BA, Latam Airlines, Qatar Airways and Sri Lankan Air,'' replied MAS.

Those in the know said “there have been several rounds of talks between MAS and BA officials, and any deal could only be hammered out some time in July this year”.

As for Latam Airlines, a source reckoned any arrangement would only happen after the Latin American airlines completed its merger exercise, expected by the middle of this year.

Latam Airlines, incidentally, is the result of the merger between LAN Airlines and TAM Airlines in 2012.

MAS has a code-share with Qatar and Sri Lankan Air at the moment, and would be seeking to extend it on new routes. For now, it rides on Qatar for the KL-Doha connectivity, while Qatar rides on MAS' network domestically and to some regional points in Asia.

As for Sri Lankan Air, MAS carries its traffic to Australia from Kuala Lumpur.

MAS is currently flying double daily on the KL-London route using an A380, translating to about 900 seats daily, while BA flies to Singapore.

BA had a decade-old code-share with Qantas but cut it after the Australian carrier found a new partner in Emirates some months ago. Qantas used to carry BA's traffic from Singapore to Australian points.

Due to this, BA turned to Cathay Pacific for its traffic into Australia via Hong Kong.

But experts feel that a better option for BA would be to have a link from either Malaysia or Singapore for the Australian connectivity. Hence, it would make sense to have a code-share with MAS.

This week, even Air France chairman/chief executive officer Alexandre de Juniac met up with MAS chairman Tan Sri Md Nor Yusof to explore code-share possibilities for the KL-Paris route and beyond. Air France has returned to ply the KL-Paris route after 25 years with a thrice-weekly flight on a B777 while MAS flies daily using an A380.

A code-share agreement or code-share, is where two or more airlines share the same flight to save cost. Under a code-share arrangement, airlines can sell the seats as they are operating the route. Such arrangements allow greater access to cities through a partners' network without having to offer extra flights.

MAS has several code-share partners, but it is also a member of oneworld, which gives it access to new markets and routes. oneworld members include MAS, Qantas, BA, American Airlines, Cathay airberlin, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Royal Jordanian and S7 Airlines, and around 20 affiliates, including Austria's NIKI, American Eagle and Dragonair.

Recently, MAS entered into a code-share with US-carrier American Airlines for 136 weekly connection options between Kuala Lumpur and the US cities of Chicago, Dallas, New York, Miami and Raleigh via any one of its three European stations, namely, London, Paris and Frankfurt.

Air France To Expand In Asia, Returns To Malaysia After 25 years


Population growth in Asia is the highest and so is economic growth. Furthermore, businesses in Asia are booming and hence the attraction for global airlines to get a slice of that action.

It is therefore no coincidence that Air France decided to take a bite at the pie when it landed on Malaysian soil on Tuesday after a 20-year absence.

For a start, Air France will begin with three weekly flights into Malaysia and may increase them should the demand rise.

It may even change from the B777 that it now operates to a A380, which is what Malaysia Airlines (MAS) deploys on the KL-Paris route.

“There is big potential for us here. We are targeting Malaysian tourists and businessmen to use our aircraft and we are pretty optimistic about that, otherwise we would not have opened the route, considering that we also have daily flights to Bangkok and Singapore,” Air France chairman and chief executive officer Alexandre de Juniac.

He is looking at loads of over 80% for his three weekly flights and that is what MAS is enjoying with its A380. That load is also shared by Air France's sister airline KLM on its KL-Amsterdam flights. Air France is not alone in returning to Malaysia. Just two days ago, Turkish Airlines returned after a decade's absence. Turkish Airlines will fly three times weekly between Istanbul and Kuala Lumpur. And in a week's time, Philippine Airlines too will return after a decade's absence.

The move by Philippine Airlines indicates that they too want to partake in the vibrancy of Asia and the sentiment is not lost on British Airways which is rumoured to be returning to KL International Airport before 2015.

“Nowadays the Asean area with Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore represent a major opportunity for businesses, so we need to cover more,'' he says.

The rising affluence

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) says demand for air travel continues to rise on economic optimism and improved business confidence. Much of the growth is concentrated in emerging markets especially in Asia. Europe continues to be a laggard.
Air France chairman and chief executive officer Alexandre de Juniac.

IATA estimates that by 2014, Asia Pacific will account for 30% of all passengers, followed by North America at 23%. Of the 800 million new passengers who will fly by then, 360 million of them, or almost half, will be in Asia Pacific. China alone will account for 214 million passengers.

Asia is now the unchallenged leader in aviation, with 787 million journeys last year and if the present rate of increase continues, the one-billion passenger figure will be overtaken in 2015, said another report.

That explains why Europe's biggest airlines are reassessing their long-haul alliances, particularly in Asia as a growing number of emerging-market carriers are fighting hard to take a bigger share of Europe-Asia traffic.

De Juniac was candid when he said: “We are here for the margins and traffic.”

But it is not just Asia, even the Asia Pacific region offers plenty of opportunities, especially for low-cost carriers and Asian airlines. Route connectivity is not as dense as Europe as there are many points in Asia and Australia which are not covered.

Demand for flights even drove Singapore Airlines (SIA) to increase its stake in Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd this week and Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airway bought into India's Jet Airways. The deal by SIA will intensify its challenge in the Australian market against dominant carrier Qantas Airways, whose new partner is Emirates, said a report.

Pricing pressure

With Air France and Turkish Airlines coming to Malaysia, the number of seats in the European sector will shoot up. Though the number of travellers will increase, so will competition.

MAS is already flying to five points in Europe London, Amsterdam, Paris, Istanbul and Frankfurt. Four European carriers, namely Air France, KLM, Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa offer connections into multiple cities in Europe from Asia.

Besides that, the Middle-East carriers are aggressively marketing European routes via a Middle East stop. Emirates is hugely popular in Australia as many like the 30kg baggage offer even though it means sitting in Dubai airport for up to four hours to catch a connecting flight into Heathrow in UK.

As at 2011, KL, Singapore and Bangkok offered 15 million seats to Europe and back, and last year the numbers fell to 14.2 million, and they are lower at 14 million this year. In contrast the seats offered by the Middle Eastern carriers to Europe is on the rise, from 8 million in 2011 to 9.5 million in 2013.

Lesser seats are offered by carriers out of Singapore and Bangkok to Europe but the seats offered from KL have increased from 1.8 million in 2011 to 1.9 million in 2013.

CAPA Centre for Aviation analyst Brendan Sobie believes the arrival of Air France is good for KLIA. It boosts competition to Europe, which is positive after AirAsia X dropped Europe including Paris last year. But that also means more competition for MAS.

Competition will intensify for the airlines as they vie for the customers even though the pie is getting bigger as more Asians take to the skies.

Competition is already intensifying when it comes to ticket prices. A return all inclusive airfare to London is between RM3,000 and RM4,000 but some airlines offer tickets at RM2,800 depending on the season. Air France is offering an all-in fare of RM3,626 for a standard economy round-trip from KL to Paris and RM11,333 for business class. It also offers premium economy seats (the in-between business and economy) at RM5,777.
An air hostess at the first class seat.

With competition comes pricing pressure and being full service carriers, the airlines need to meet the high expectation of travellers.

That is despite Visa's latest Global Travel Intentions Study 2013 that showed global cross-border tourism is thriving and people are more willing to increase their budgets for their next trip by an average of 5%.

Alliances

European carriers have been facing tough times back home and margins are thinning because of the eurozone crisis and they are jockeying for positions to grab a bigger share of the fast-growing Asian market.

Given that competition can get fierce in Asia with pricing pressure, can these European carriers sustain the momentum?

De Juniac is taking a page from KLM's success story of being able to sustain in Asia for several decades now. He believes Air France is a “high class” product where quality matters and it will be able to attract travellers both from Europe and Asia.

“We will open additional Asian destinations and the reasons why we are targeting this part of the world is because of the strong growth here compared with the eurozone which is slow and lagging. It could recover but for the long haul we have to target the fast-growing areas,” De Juniac says.

KLM flies to KL and also flies to Indonesia because of its historical ties and Air France will use the KLM's KL-Jakarta connectivity as it penetrates Asia.

CAPA's Sobie believes “the connections to Indonesia will be key in making the route (KL-Paris) work for Air France.”

For players like Air France to make it big in Asia, they need partners.

De Juniac is thinking of working with partners in Asia, and China, including MAS. During his visit, he met up with the top brass at MAS for exploratory talks on cooperation.

Alliances are important for long haul carriers. A major shift occurred in the industry when Australia's Qantas partnered Emirates. That ended Qantas' relationship with Air France and BA.

Both now need to find new partners to connect to Australia because Qantas cannot do that any more from Singapore. BA has found Cathay Pacific but experts believes a viable proposition is via Singapore or Malaysia.

Hence the talks between MAS and Air France. What will come out of it is unclear as both are members of different alliances. MAS is with oneworld and Air France SkyTeam. But De Juniac believes there can be a way.
Air France’s economy class seating

“Of course, the difficulty at this stage is that it (MAS) belongs to oneworld and we belong to SkyTeam, which are competing alliances. But it is not impossible that we could envisage something. It could be possible if MAS asks its other oneworld members and any arrangement could be limited to a particular route, destination or traffic,'' De Juniac says.

Perhaps the cooperation could be beyond the KL-Paris route to include Australian and the Asian connections. Even BA needs that connection into Australia and greater Asia, experts believe. MAS is in talks with BA for a code share.

The big brands

One major beneficiary from new flights coming into KL is the tourism sector.

According to Tourism Malaysia director (international marketing division Americas, Europe, Oceania) Datin Normasila Musa, tourist arrivals from Paris alone totalled 136,172 last year and the target is over 140,000 French tourists this year.

That means there are more arrivals at KLIA, and one immediate beneficiary will be Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB). Hopefully with Air France. Turkish Airlines and Philippine Airlines returning, other big airlines will also be attracted to KLIA.

More than a decade ago BA, Qantas and Lufthansa left because of the economic crisis. The latter returned some years ago and MAHB has been in talks with BA.

BA may return, some say, but is there a compelling reason for its return or can it just make do with the code share with MAS?

Passenger arrivals will help boost tourist receipts and the airport. A decade ago, it was hard to justify KLIA as a hub in Asia. That is changing with the return of more big brands.

Last year, KLIA was the 27th busiest airport globally, recording 39 million passenger arrivals, according to Airport Council International (ACI) data. Experts believe it should go up a few notches over the next two years and should be in the top 20 by 2020. But it would be hard to beat the growth Soekarno Hatta records as last year, 57 million passengers passed through the airport in Jakarta, beating Changi which chalked up 51 million and Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi 53 million.

A decade ago, both Jakarta and KLIA was not even on the ACI charts.

All this indicates the growth is in KLIA and Soekarno Hatta and Malaysia's vibrant economy led by the economic transformation programme is also seeing a lot more foreign investors coming and setting shop in the country.

With more investments, the expatriate community will also increase and it also induces tourism activities. Just this week Germany's BASF and Petronas Chemicals Bhd say they will invest US$500mil (RM1.5bil) to expand their operations at Gebeng, Kuantan to manufacture products for the global flavour and fragrance industry.

All this bodes well for Malaysia, which is moving in the right direction. If the European carriers want a slice of this market, they need to be in Asia and Malaysia stands to benefit from that.


Credits to Star Biz Week

Friday, April 26, 2013

George Jones, Country Music Icon, Dead at 81

Country music legend George Jones died on Friday at a Nashville hospital a week after falling ill with a fever and irregular blood pressure, a representative has confirmed. He was 81.

The "Possum," as he was known, died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

In a career that lasted more than half a century, Jones recorded more than 150 albums and became the champion and symbol of traditional country music, a well-lined link to his hero, Hank Williams.

The Country Music Hall of Famer produced hits in five decades, including "The Grand Tour," "‪If Drinkin' Don't Kill Me (Her Memory Will)‬," "Walk Through This World With Me," "Tender Years" and "He Stopped Loving Her Today," widely regarded as the format's best song ever.

Jones is survived by his wife of 30 years, Nancy Jones, his sister Helen Scroggins, and by his children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Qatar To Get First A380 In Early 2014

The assembly of Qatar Airways' first A380 superjumbo is set to start this month, according to plane maker Airbus.

The European manufacturer said the vertical tail section for the first A380 for the Gulf carrier has been painted with the airline's trademark oryx logo and arrived at Airbus final assembly line in Toulouse.

The painting was completed earlier this week at Airbus facilities in Hamburg and is now ready for assembly. The first A380 is slated for delivery to Qatar Airways in early 2014.

The distinctive Qatar Airways logo is comprised of a violet oryx with silver streaks and the paint was applied over a period of 10 days, Airbus said in a statement.

Qatar Airways will become the tenth operator of the A380 when it takes delivery of its first aircraft in 2014.

The airline has firm orders for ten A380s and will operate the aircraft on its most premier routes.

More news on the A380

AIRFRANCE to Start A380 Service to Shanghai from September 2013

AIRFRANCE from 02SEP13 is to introduce Airbus A380 operation on Paris CDG – Shanghai Pu Dong route, where it’ll operate 3 times a week. Reservation for the A380 service opened earlier today (25APR13).

AF112 CDG1340 – 0640+1PVG 77W D
AF116 CDG2320 – 1620+1PVG 388 145
AF116 CDG2320 – 1620+1PVG 77W x145

AF117 PVG1040 – 1650CDG 77W D
AF111 PVG2320 – 0535+1CDG 77W x256
AF111 PVG2320 – 0535+1CDG 388 256

As a result of A380 redeployment, AIRFRANCE will cancel A380 service to Singapore from the same date.
AF256 CDG2320 – 1815+1SIN 77W D
AF257 SIN2300 – 0610+1CDG 77W D

Thursday, April 25, 2013

The Lights Go Out and Things Get Dark On Glee

Leave it to Glee to manage to throw a seriously twisted twist into the middle of an episode about preparing for regionals. Tonight the lights went out at McKinley High School, and people opened up ... bit time. Not one but two Glee characters confessed they've beenmolested.

The show has covered some major teen topics over the years -- from suicide to alcohol -- but it's the first time they've broached child molestation.

To their credit, the writers did right by the topic.

We've watched Ryder struggle with the fact that his new online confidant might be a fellow choir member who is Catfishing him, but tonight we found out why he's let himself be reeled in. Thanks to the anonymity provided by a computer screen, the newest New Direction was able to talk about being molested by his babysitter wen he was younger. But tonight decided to say the words out loud for the first time to his fellow choir members in part because he was afraid his Catfisher might spill the beans.

The power of the Glee treatment came from the response from the guys in the choir room.

The New Directions guys scoffed at Ryder's embarrassment and called being violated by an older woman a real coup for a young stud.

And it turns out something similar happened to Kitty, who confessed to Ryder during a private dinner at Breadsticks that she too was abused -- this time by a friend's older brother at a sleepover. Kitty's trust was then violated by her own parents, who seemed intent on believing that the perpetrator was a "good boy" who just couldn't have done what she'd said. The bullying that came after her story spread around school forced Kitty to change schools, sending her to McKinley.

Both teens stories were pretty sad ... and pretty typical of the high school experience.

At first I was a little put off by how quickly the show jumped from these serious confessions back to the more superficial work Kurt, Rachel, and Santana were doing for the New York City Ballet's fundraiser or the Glee club perfecting its version of Queen's We Will Rock You.

But the more I think about it, the more apropos it was. This is what happens to real kids in real life. They say someone is sexually assaulted in some way every 2 minutes, but we probably will never know how often it happens to kids especially because they are blown off so often, they are treated as if they were somehow responsible or as if they should have enjoyed it. And if they aren't receiving that treatment, they're fearing that they will ... fearing it so much that they don't speak up.

Bravo to Glee for their treatment of this tough topic, especially for pairing up with the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) to give kids a place to turn if the episode hit home.

But I have to say I'm hoping for something a little lighter next week ... and they'd better follow through on the promise of some Klaine drama that we saw in the teaser!

What did you think of tonight's powerful episode? Did it ring true for you?

'American Idol' Top 4 Results Twist

Ryan Seacrest is such a tease: "In just a bit, I will announce some shocking news that will affect the judges and turn the competition upside down." I don't know what it is, but I have a feeling it'll mean an extra week of competition. 'Cause on the track the competition's on right now, the American Idolseason will end on May 9 -- and we all know the finale is scheduled for May 16.

Before that, though, we'll get treated to footage from the trip the "Fantastic Four" took to a Children's Hospital Los Angeles, which included a mini-concert. "We had so much fun," says Kree Harrison. "I don't think they were having as much fun as we were having."

Tonight, the girls sing Alicia Keys' Girl on Fire, with Angie Miller starting the song at the piano before taking to center stage with Harrison, Candice Glover and Amber Holcomb.

Amber and Candice, or Angie and Kree?

Amber and Candice are the Bottom. Angie and Kree are safe.

But who's in real danger?

Next week's theme, by the way, will be Now and Then. And all four will return to sing.

'Let me explain," Seacrest says. The show has built an extra week into its schedule since instituting the judges' save. So when the judges didn't use their save last week, they had to do something to stay on track. Ergo, everybody comes back next week. But the votes won't be wasted, Seacrest promises.

"Next Thursday, we'll take your over 38 million votes" from Wednesday and combine them with next week's vote total to eliminate one singer, he says.

"Tonight, it's all celebration and good news. ... The ladies are all safe tonight!"

***

Finally, it's time to hear about Angie Miller's performances. The judges, you may recall, flipped.

"Angie won the night, hands down" with two great songs and two great performances, Iovine says. She looks a little bit "in her head" when she stands, but she'll grow into that. She looks more natural behind the piano, he thinks, and if she stays there, she just might win.

To keep her momentum, Mariah Carey says, Miller should "stick with" the piano and "keep being angelic, the way you are."

Ryan Seacrest will form two groups of two -- the top two and the bottom two. Amber Holcomb and Angie Miller are in different groups. Kree Harrison's with Miller, and Candice Glover's with Holcomb. "Who goes where?" Seacrest wonders, before tossing to commercial.

***

Drake joins the judges at their table, and ninth-season winner Lee DeWyze comes back to Idol to perform new single Silver Lining. He's married now, having met his wife after Idol on a video set. "She's been, like, the biggest supporter," he says.

The new album, he says, is "about finding hope when you think there isn't any."

The new single is a country-folk song that's built, dynamically, a lot like Phillip Phillips'Home, especially its big sing-along chorus.

***

Next under Jimmy Iovine's microscope, it's Candice Glover.

"Big voices are difficult to maintain," Iovine says. "She needs to protect that voice. Speak less. Just focus on the contests." He really believes in her, but now is not the time to back up but move forward. Oh, and he thinks Nicki Minaj is sweet on him.

Is this a mutual crush, Ryan Seacrest wonders? "I didn't want to tell the world," Minaj says. "I was kind of waiting till Idol was over to reveal that my new sugar daddy is Jimmy Iovine."

Drake, by the way, was at home Wednesday watching Glover sing Find Your Loveand he left her a message: "I was honored that you sang my song and you did such an amazing job," he says. "You have an angelic voice." Oh, and he's really on-site. He comes out and gives her a big hug.

"I am such a big fan," Glover tells him. "Thank you for coming!"

***

Now let's find out what Jimmy Iovine thought about Kree Harrison's performances Wednesday night.

"Kree needed to redeem herself after that mid-tempo blues song," Iovine says. Everybody but Keith Urban though she did. And Iovine agrees with Urban. If anybody thinks otherwise, he says, "They're wrong. It's absurd! To have a great performance, you have to have a great song." There's a reason Procol Harum was a one-hit wonder, he says: People realized their songs sucked.

Now it's time to hear from Stefano, who signed to Hollywood Records after finished seventh on Idol's 10th season. He's got a new album due this summer. He's singingYes to Love -- and looking forward to singing it to four female contestants and two female judges. What a hound.

Yes to Love is a nice song, but hardly a great one. Stefano still tends to close his eyes when he sings. And the best part of the performance comes when he lets loose with a stratospheric high note near the song's end, then does a few runs before finishing.


This week's Ford mission has the four singers hanging with Ryan Seacrest for the day -- at least that's the day. He's actually one step ahead of them: Every time they show up somewhere, he has apparently just left. Yet he seems to be everywhere. It's almost like there's more than one of him. (Oh, wait, there is.)

Next, there's a new segment where the Idols have to reveal five things people don't know about them in 20 seconds.

Miller hates the color pink. She lives in heels. She loves to eat olives.

Glover loves Spongebob Squarepants and can't sleep without socks on. She loves Drake and purple. But we knew that about Drake.

Harrison's been bitten by a snake. She loves. And she sucks. (Seriously, that's what she said.)

Holcomb likes showers, not baths. And 90-degree weather. Was on drill team. Was in a play. Loves neon green. And there's a bonus: She's got a pierced septum!

So Holcomb wins! But how about the big contest? And what did Jimmy Iovine really think about her?

He thinks she did a great job on The Power of Love. But choosing MacArthur Parkwas an entirely different matter. Neither Iovine nor Holcomb know what that song's about -- and you can't sing what you don't understand. "If America agrees with me -- she's in trouble!"

Qatar To Restart Boeing 787’s Delayed Australian Debut


Qatar cancelled the launch of the Perth-Doha Boeing 787 service just two weeks before its scheduled February 1st start, as the Gulf carrier joined other airlines around the world in grounding the 787 after a series of critical overheating problems with the lithium-ion battery system.
However, following a series of design changes by Boeing which include containment and venting systems for both the main and auxiliary batteries, Qatar is keen to see its 787s hauled out of the hanger and put back into service.
This will include Qatar’s QR901 service from Perth to Doha switching from a Boeing 777 to a Boeing 787, although the airline has yet to name a new date for the Dreamliner’s delayed Australian debut.
A Qatar Airways spokesman told Australian Business Traveller that the airline has pencilled in May 15 for the recommencement of the dedicated Doha-London Boeing 787 QR75 service.
Australian travellers arriving into Doha on QR901 at 5.20am will be able to transfer to QR75, which leaves Doha 6.40am to continue their 787 journey through to London’s Heathrow airport.
Despite a tight 1h20m timing between the two flights, a Qatar Airways spokesman assured Australian Business Traveller that “this connection is correct and it’s very bookable.”
“Doha is very efficient in moving passengers from aircraft to aircraft and the passengers will make the connection easily” he said, adding a little positive spin that “the best thing about it (is) there’s no waiting around.”

Inside Qatar Airway's Boeing 787

The 22 business class seats nestled in the nose of Qatar's Dreamliner adopt a passenger-pleasing 1-2-1 layout with fully flat beds and direct aisle access for every passenger.
The cabin is bright, modern and streamlined – and in common with other 787 customers, Qatar has skipped a super-luxe first class: their Dreamliners contain only business and economy cabins.
AusBT contributor David Parker Brown (who also runs AirlineReporter.com) snapped these these real-world photos at Qatar's 787 launch.
Like just about every modern airliner, Boeing's 787 has LED overhead lighting that's a big improvement on the fluorescent tubes used in older planes.
And it's not just about the accent lighting: waking up gently with a slowly brightening, sunrise-hued cabin is much more pleasant than the single flick-to-glaring lights we remember from older jets. 
Angling towards the windows (or centre dividers, which you can raise or lower depending on whether you want to interact with the person next to you), each seat is private and spacious, with cleverly designed multi-level storage and work surfaces.
The 22-inch (56 cm) seat reclines to a fully flat 80 inches (203 cm), with your feet sliding underneath the monitor. The armrest also slides down so you have a wider sleeping area.
With the centre divider down, you can share ideas with colleagues or spend some quality time with a +1 over dinner, or use the large work table to put the final touches to a slide deck on your laptop.

Tight fit in Qatar's 787 economy cabin

Down the back in economy, it's a different scene: Qatar drew up an elbow-crunching 3-3-3 layout.
This means that each seat is narrower than Boeing's alternative option of an an eight-across 2-4-2 configuration. And these seats are narrow, even for economy.
With their generous legroom, the front rows are the obvious seats to pick.
A massive video screen -- with its own Android phone-sized controller -- might take your mind off the tight elbow-room.
Boeing's extra-large 787 Dreamliner windows are a benefit for the window seat seat passenger (and anyone trying to peer past them for a glimpse of what's outside).
Like all 787s, Qatar's also has electronic dimming windows.
However, we reckon many travellers woud trade those windows for a spot in the 787's 'secret' crew rest area where pilots and flight attendants take their scheduled breaks from duty.
Perched above the passengers and overhead bins, this cosy loft space is accessible by a small ladder leading up from the main deck.


 

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