Sambas in the air

The non-stop flight, operating by Airbus A340500 aircraft, takes about 15 hours. Flight EY 191 departs Abu Dhabi at 8.30am (local time) before arriving Sao Paulo at 4.35pm. On the return leg, flight EY 192 leaves for Abu Dhabi at 6.20pm and arrives in the Arab Emirates’ Capital at 4.05pm. Visit www.Etihad.com.

 

App on track

Using a smart phone to plan your European trip by train has become easier and cheaper since the launch of the Rail Planner App. Originally conceived for InterRail and Eurail Pass holders, the Rail Planner App ensures that rail travellers have offline European timetable information at hand. City maps and country facts for all participating countries are included and it’s possible to find your closest railway station with the handy built-in augmented reality feature. Find out more at www.EURailgroup.org/railplanner.

 

Celebrating the highlands

Vietnam plans to put the Central Highlands on the tourist map as part of its celebrations of National Tourism Year 2014. The campaign promises visitors cultural events under the theme “High Mountains and Thick Forests of the Central Highlands”. Major events include a cultural week to mark the Unesco Vietnam Heritage Festival, a festival of brocade arts, a Central Highlands fashion show and an international gong festival. Visit www.VietnamTourism.com. – Viet Nam News.

 

TAM discontinues Paris/Frankfurt service

The Brazilian airline TAM is discontinuing its non-stop services between Rio de Janeiro and Paris and Frankfurt on August 11. The company did not give a reason for the decision. Passengers who already have bought a ticket on TAM for after that date should contact the airlines’ customer services. The free telephone hotline offers three options. The flights for either Frankfurt or Paris can be changed to another TAM flight with Sao Paulo as an alternative connection. Passengers can also rebook for a flight on another airline. Or they can be reimbursed the money for the purchased ticket.

 

SIA places further A350 order

Singapore Airlines (SIA) is to purchase up to 50 more A350 XWB aircraft. The agreement covers a firm order for 30 more A350900s plus options for a further 20 aircraft. The deal allows the airline to select either the baseline A350-900 or the larger A350-1000 when exercising the options. The latest agreement will represent the third order from Singapore Airlines for the A350 XWB. The aircraft will be used by the airline on both medium and long haul routes. Visit www.SingaporeAirlines.com.

 

Apple on wheels

New York has joining the world of municipal bike rentals. The Big Apple is setting up 330 Citi Bike stations with 6,000 bicycles in Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn, according to the operators, NYC Bike Share. Some 9,000 people have already registered for the programme in New York and can pick up and drop off bikes as they need them around the city. Twenty-four hours of access to the bikes cost s$ 9.95 (Bt300) while a week costs $25 and an annual membership goes for $95. If the program proves successful, the operators are considering expanding it to 10,000 bikes at 600 stations. Visit www.CitiBikeNYC.com.