Monday, October 1, 2012

CNNGo.com

CNNGo.com

Thai Airways joins A380 club

Posted: 01 Oct 2012 12:45 AM PDT

by CNNGo staff

Thai Airways is now the proud owner of its very own A380, becoming the ninth airline to offer flights on the world's largest passenger aircraft.

Thailand's flag carrier picked up the first of six A380s on order at Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France, last weekend. 

The airplane will service Bangkok-Hong Kong and Bangkok-Singapore routes from October 6 until the delivery of a second aircraft in December, when it will hit the Bangkok-Frankfurt route. (Bangkok-Singapore A380 flights will be dropped, Bangkok-Hong Kong will continue.)

Early next year, Thai Airways will start flying the Airbus A380 on its Bangkok-Narita route, then Bangkok-Paris in February followed by Osaka, Sydney and London flights later in 2013. 

More on CNN: Boeing 747-8 vs. Airbus A380

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China territory dispute hurting Japan tourism

Posted: 30 Sep 2012 07:43 PM PDT

It may be China's so-called "Golden Week" of national holidays, but many potential travelers are avoiding spending it in Japan as tensions between the two countries increase.

The escalating dispute between Japan and China over a string of uninhabited islands in the East China Sea is hitting the travel trade, as major airlines have started cutting capacity following thousands of tourist cancelations.

Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways say the tussle over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands has led to a combined total of more than 50,000 tickets being canceled by passengers originally planning to travel in the Japan-China market through November.

Both airlines say they are either suspending routes or using smaller aircraft to match lower passenger demand.

With the airlines stating most of the nixed trips had been for pleasure, rather than business, it's apparent that Chinese and Japanese tourists are seeking alternatives to visiting each other's countries.

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Chilling, thrilling, stressful: Learn to fly a Boeing 737 in Bangkok

Posted: 30 Sep 2012 06:18 PM PDT

by Karla Cripps

Ever wondered why being a commercial airline pilot is one of the most stressful jobs in the world? 

Try landing a Boeing 737-800 on a simulator at Bangkok's new Flight Experience Center. 

Guest "pilots" can feel with 85 percent accuracy what it's like to takeoff, fly and land the famed passenger aircraft. The realism is chilling, thrilling and mildly stressful.

More on CNN: World Airport Awards: The winner is ... 

Agaphas Teparagul, owner and managing director of the Bangkok Flight Experience Center, says his company uses the 737 cockpit because the 737 is the most widely used aircraft in the world -- on average, one takes off every five minutes from any given airport. 

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Insider Guide: Best of Stockholm

Posted: 30 Sep 2012 09:05 AM PDT

by Lola Akinmade Åkerström

Island hopping isn't just the province of exotic locales like the Caribbean.

Within its greater archipelago, Stockholm and its 1.2 million residents are spread across 14 distinct islands, just a few out of 28,000 -- yes, you read that right. 

Don't be surprised if stereotypes of tall, happy-go-lucky blondes eating Swedish meatballs while driving Volvos to IKEA are dashed upon your visit. Today, the best of Stockholm is richly diverse with a darker, moodier side, and an eclectic reputation on par with Berlin and New York.

If you can't leave town without Swarovski crystal, glitzy Östermalm island has more high-end designer stores per block than most anywhere in the world.

If you're looking for vintage records and secondhand clothing, know that bohemian-chic Södermalm earns constant comparisons with New York's SoHo.

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at 9:04 AM