Geoffrey Thomas

Need more space?

EasyJet is the name – and the promise. And right now the airline is delivering on that promise.

Perth to London with no jet lag? Fantastic and true on Emirates’ new daylight flight to Europe.

Finding value in European cities can be a real challenge, particularly with our weak dollar, but when you find it the feeling’s a bit like striking gold, or any other precious metal for that matter.

China offers enormous potential for WA in terms of tourist numbers. But has the state missed the boat?

Singapore Changi Airport’s new Terminal 3 (T3), which will open its doors in early 2008, will give passengers a whole new travel experience.

There are some spectacular cruise specials on offer but you will have to be quick to snap up some bargains. The cruises cover some of the favourites for ‘cruiseophiles’ and a couple that are quite different.

South African Airways is setting new standards in comfort.

Options for getting into the Kimberley have never been better. Qantas, Skywest Airlines and Virgin Blue all offer differing flight and pricing packages that cover all budgets.

Air New Zealand has the package and attitude to redefine its place in the market.

As well as a total cabin makeover, Air New Zealand has developed new menus and wine lists that reflect the “relaxed luxury” theme.

Skywest is considering withdrawing its four-times-weekly service to Karratha and Port Hedland unless it gains critical resource industry support.

Emirates is one airline that uses MedLink services and has recently introduced the passenger health monitoring system, Tempus, from UK-based Remote Diagnostic Technologies Ltd (RDT).

If you haven’t set foot on a cruise ship and just want to put your toe in the water to test the experience, then Captain Cook Cruises may be a good option.

Qantas has finally returned to the city with which many Australians have had a long love affair, San Francisco.

A rise in the frequency of in-flight medical emergencies has prompted a rapid response from some airlines.

As part of the celebrations to mark Qantas’s inaugural Sydney-San Francisco flight last month, the airline officially signed for up to 115 Boeing 787s to be used extensively from Perth.

Qantas has become the largest purchaser of the world's fastest selling twin-aisle aircraft, ordering 65 240-290 seat Boeing 787s worth $7.6 billion.

OzJet’s decision to concentrate on charter work has left business travellers awaiting the arrival of Jetstar and its budget service.

Antarctica is a continent of extremes. It’s actually a desert, receiving about the same precipitation as the Sahara. But if Antarctica were to melt, the sea level would rise more than 18 metres.

Broome will be one of the bases for a billion dollar twelve-year Australian Customs Service contract for civil aerial maritime surveillance of the Australian coast.

No-one likes hidden extras, especially on a cruise, where the endless tipping and expensive wines can really take the edge off what should be a tranquil holiday.

Cathay Pacific, an airline dear to the hearts of Western Australians, has just been named airline of the year by the industry’s leading journal – Washington DC based Air Transport World (ATW) at a gala dinner in Singapore.

OzJet, which starts services on March 14, will offer Perth business travellers some significantly different travel options.

National Jet Systems (NJS) will take delivery of the eighth, and last, 115-seat Boeing 717 on March 1, to replace the venerable workhorse, the BAe-146, on services in Western Australia and across the top end.

Malaysia Airlines is undertaking a $250 million makeover to redefine its 747-400 and 777-200ER fleet.

Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon believes that the Jetstar brand - which begins flying to WA next month and will soon be capable of flying from Perth internationally - is a key plank in accelerating the national carrier's post-privatisation transformation.

On the eve of the launch of its second service to Perth, Emirates is flagging a third daily service between Perth and Dubai.

There is nothing quite like the intimate first class in the nose of the 747 or the delightful ‘private jet’ feeling of business class in the upper deck on the ‘queen of the skies’.

After the hassle of lining up to check-in for an international flight and the ever-more-tiresome airport security procedures, a comfortable place to sit and relax before boarding is practically a necessity.

Qantas’ stunning $20 billion order for up to 115 Boeing 787s has the potential to revolutionise travel to and from Western Australia by the end of this decade.

IT was a night and a day – and another night and yet another day – to remember, and Smithy and Lindbergh would have been so impressed.