Vital equipment to support NGO’s worldwide programmes
Cargo to arrive in A380 on the way to the Dubai airshow
An Airbus A380 arriving for the Dubai Airshow will carry with it eight tonnes of humanitarian aid. The delivery, facilitated by the Airbus Corporate Foundation, a non-commercial arm of the leading aircraft manufacturer, and its partners, will boost crucial stocks at Action Against Hunger’s hub in the emirate – strategically located to serve a global effort.
Founded in France in 1979, Action Against Hunger is recognised as one of the most important humanitarian organisations combating hunger and malnutrition worldwide. It is an issue that affects approximately one billion people across the globe, with most lacking access to clean water leading to disease and malnutrition, and remains the largest single contributor to child mortality. Today’s delivery of water purification equipment, more than 50 cubic metres, the equivalent of two 20’ standard sea freight containers, to the non-governmental organisation’s (NGO) Dubai base is central to its efforts.
Tom Enders, Head of the Airbus Corporate Foundation and President and CEO of Airbus, said: “Thanks to all our partners, the Airbus Corporate Foundation has been able to support Action Against Hunger by transporting vital emergency sanitation equipment to one of the key storage hubs. This is a great example of how aviation, being a key enabler of global economic and social development and an essential resource for humanitarian efforts, can help in a very tangible way. We hope this to be the start of a long-term partnership between both our organisations.”
Action Against Hunger is increasing stocks at its Dubai base to capitalise on the emirate’s strategic location from which to serve a coordinated global effort in response to emergency situations elsewhere in the world. The non-profit, non-religious organisation has established an international network to deliver life-saving programmes in some 45 countries, specialising in emergency situations of conflict, natural disaster and chronic food insecurity. A primary concern of these projects is to facilitate the provision of – and access to – safe water through programmes that currently reach four million people each year.
Erland Egiziano, Logistics Director Action Against Hunger, said: “More than one billion people worldwide lack access to clean drinking water and 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation. These issues are the root cause of many infections that lead to sickness and ultimately malnutrition and are responsible for 2.2 million preventable deaths each year – mostly among children. In our efforts to eliminate hunger, clean water is as essential as food. The equipment being delivered today by the Airbus Corporate Foundation is vital in restoring dignity, self-sufficiency and independence for vulnerable communities and saving the lives of children and their families throughout the world.”
The Airbus Corporate Foundation was established in December 2008 to support humanitarian causes through good will flights, youth development in the communities in which it operates, and environmental issues in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Thursday, November 19, 2009
ETIHAD DETAILS US $750 MILLION INVESTMENT PACKAGE AT DUBAI AIR SHOW
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will highlight a US $750 million investment in its workforce, fleet, in-flight service and planning and resourcing systems at this week’s Dubai Air Show.
The airline, which earlier in the month celebrated its sixth anniversary, said the investments would address key strategic elements of the business to support the company’s position as the world’s leading airline.
Speaking at a press conference on the second day of the Dubai Air Show, James Hogan, Etihad Airway’s chief executive officer, said: “Etihad has taken great strides forward in only six years. We have created a compelling brand, an outstanding service offer and a strong hub at Abu Dhabi Airport. That progress was recognised last week when Etihad was named the world’s leading airline at the World Travel Awards.
“The record-breaking aircraft and engine orders we made at the Farnborough and Paris air shows demonstrate our transformation into a major player in global aviation. We have set the foundations for future growth and development.
“Now we are taking the next steps. Over the course of this week, we will announce a series of strategic contracts, partnerships and initiatives which will address key strategic elements of our business and allow us to deliver on our long term plans.
Mr Hogan said the contracts and signings would provide maintenance, retro-fitting, cabin upgrades and component support for aircraft currently in the fleet or being delivered over the coming years.
In addition, the airline will also announce deals which will see the introduction of state-of-the-art software systems aimed at improving the airline’s flight planning and cabin and flight crew resourcing.
The airline will also further boost its Emiritisation programme, with an agreement with the Institute of Applied technology to provide students with opportunities to build successful future careers with Etihad.
The other announcements include:
A contract with Panasonic to install one of the world’s most comprehensive in-flight entertainment systems on board our new A330-300 fleet and new Boeing B777 aircraft, scheduled for delivery from December 2009 and 2011, respectively. The new Panasonic eX2 system boasts a host of world-leading entertainment, information and functional features for people in all cabins and of all ages
A US$ 200 million contract with International Aero Engines to provide a comprehensive overhaul and repair service for 14 Airbus aircraft in Etihad’s narrow-body fleet. Transferring engine maintenance responsibility to IAE will deliver significant cost benefits, especially in terms of lower fuel consumption, reliability and increased flying time between maintenance overhauls
A major contract with Lufthansa Technik to install the airline’s new first class suite in nine of its Airbus A340 aircraft currently in service. The work involves a complete renovation of the cabin, galley areas and a new in-flight entertainment system
A contract with Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies (ADAT) to upgrade the cabins in the airline’s Boeing B777 and Airbus A320 fleets. The Boeing B777 programme involves replacing and reconfiguring economy class seats as well as upgrading the in-flight entertainment system. The cabins of the Airbus A320s will be completely refurbished to the latest Etihad specification
A component support deal worth up to US$ 250 million with leading maintenance, repair and overhaul supplier SR Technics, which will give Etihad easy access to more than 3000 aircraft components at Abu Dhabi and key outstations, reducing the need for the airline to maintain large and costly component inventories of its own
An agreement with aviation IT specialist Lufthansa Systems to introduce a new flight planning system, which will enable the airline to significantly reduce fuel costs by up to five per cent, cut emissions and benefit from more efficient flight planning processes
An agreement with leading workforce management software provider Kronos Incorporated to automate and optimise planning and management processes for Etihad’s 4,000 cabin and flight crew. The new crew planning software system will increase the quality of the airline’s crew planning and improve the stability of crew rosters
A key factor behind Etihad’s growth has been its investment in premium cabins. The airline will use the Dubai Air Show to showcase its new first class suite, on one of its newest Airbus A340-600 aircraft.
Mr Hogan said: “The new first class suite is a stunning product that is helping us stand out in the premium travel market. It has been incredibly well-received and we are delighted to be able to roll it out across the A340 fleet so quickly.”
Members of the public will be able to visit the new first class cabin, which contains 12 individual suites that have been designed to provide first class customers with more privacy, greater comfort and increased storage.
Each private suite is accessed by its own sliding door and includes a personal wardrobe and mini bar, as well as 23" wide-screen LCD screen which features more than 600 hours of ‘on demand’ entertainment. Spacious stowage compartments are built into and around the seat.
The first class cabin also features a large and luxurious changing room with a full length mirror, new style wash basin and leather fold-down seat to allow passengers to freshen up and change after take-off and prior to landing.
The announcements come as the airline celebrates its sixth anniversary, a period in which it has grown to serve 57 destinations, with a fleet of 49 aircraft expected to carry more than seven million passengers in 2009.
In a separate signing, Etihad was welcomed by Air Cargo Maximus as a founding partner of a new international initiative by the UAE called ‘Care in the Air’ to support worldwide human relief operations, by providing aid ‘at cost’ to regions in need.
Mr Hogan concluded: “In six years, Etihad has grown to take its place on the global stage, recognised as a serious airline, with serious long-term ambitions.
“Over the next decade, we will see continued expansion of our services around the globe. The heavy investment in the growth and economic diversification of Abu Dhabi is contributing to that development, and we are planning now to meet those future demands.
“But at every stage, we will take a commercial view of our investment strategy, so we can be sure of delivering a satisfactory return to our shareholder.”
The airline, which earlier in the month celebrated its sixth anniversary, said the investments would address key strategic elements of the business to support the company’s position as the world’s leading airline.
Speaking at a press conference on the second day of the Dubai Air Show, James Hogan, Etihad Airway’s chief executive officer, said: “Etihad has taken great strides forward in only six years. We have created a compelling brand, an outstanding service offer and a strong hub at Abu Dhabi Airport. That progress was recognised last week when Etihad was named the world’s leading airline at the World Travel Awards.
“The record-breaking aircraft and engine orders we made at the Farnborough and Paris air shows demonstrate our transformation into a major player in global aviation. We have set the foundations for future growth and development.
“Now we are taking the next steps. Over the course of this week, we will announce a series of strategic contracts, partnerships and initiatives which will address key strategic elements of our business and allow us to deliver on our long term plans.
Mr Hogan said the contracts and signings would provide maintenance, retro-fitting, cabin upgrades and component support for aircraft currently in the fleet or being delivered over the coming years.
In addition, the airline will also announce deals which will see the introduction of state-of-the-art software systems aimed at improving the airline’s flight planning and cabin and flight crew resourcing.
The airline will also further boost its Emiritisation programme, with an agreement with the Institute of Applied technology to provide students with opportunities to build successful future careers with Etihad.
The other announcements include:
A contract with Panasonic to install one of the world’s most comprehensive in-flight entertainment systems on board our new A330-300 fleet and new Boeing B777 aircraft, scheduled for delivery from December 2009 and 2011, respectively. The new Panasonic eX2 system boasts a host of world-leading entertainment, information and functional features for people in all cabins and of all ages
A US$ 200 million contract with International Aero Engines to provide a comprehensive overhaul and repair service for 14 Airbus aircraft in Etihad’s narrow-body fleet. Transferring engine maintenance responsibility to IAE will deliver significant cost benefits, especially in terms of lower fuel consumption, reliability and increased flying time between maintenance overhauls
A major contract with Lufthansa Technik to install the airline’s new first class suite in nine of its Airbus A340 aircraft currently in service. The work involves a complete renovation of the cabin, galley areas and a new in-flight entertainment system
A contract with Abu Dhabi Aircraft Technologies (ADAT) to upgrade the cabins in the airline’s Boeing B777 and Airbus A320 fleets. The Boeing B777 programme involves replacing and reconfiguring economy class seats as well as upgrading the in-flight entertainment system. The cabins of the Airbus A320s will be completely refurbished to the latest Etihad specification
A component support deal worth up to US$ 250 million with leading maintenance, repair and overhaul supplier SR Technics, which will give Etihad easy access to more than 3000 aircraft components at Abu Dhabi and key outstations, reducing the need for the airline to maintain large and costly component inventories of its own
An agreement with aviation IT specialist Lufthansa Systems to introduce a new flight planning system, which will enable the airline to significantly reduce fuel costs by up to five per cent, cut emissions and benefit from more efficient flight planning processes
An agreement with leading workforce management software provider Kronos Incorporated to automate and optimise planning and management processes for Etihad’s 4,000 cabin and flight crew. The new crew planning software system will increase the quality of the airline’s crew planning and improve the stability of crew rosters
A key factor behind Etihad’s growth has been its investment in premium cabins. The airline will use the Dubai Air Show to showcase its new first class suite, on one of its newest Airbus A340-600 aircraft.
Mr Hogan said: “The new first class suite is a stunning product that is helping us stand out in the premium travel market. It has been incredibly well-received and we are delighted to be able to roll it out across the A340 fleet so quickly.”
Members of the public will be able to visit the new first class cabin, which contains 12 individual suites that have been designed to provide first class customers with more privacy, greater comfort and increased storage.
Each private suite is accessed by its own sliding door and includes a personal wardrobe and mini bar, as well as 23" wide-screen LCD screen which features more than 600 hours of ‘on demand’ entertainment. Spacious stowage compartments are built into and around the seat.
The first class cabin also features a large and luxurious changing room with a full length mirror, new style wash basin and leather fold-down seat to allow passengers to freshen up and change after take-off and prior to landing.
The announcements come as the airline celebrates its sixth anniversary, a period in which it has grown to serve 57 destinations, with a fleet of 49 aircraft expected to carry more than seven million passengers in 2009.
In a separate signing, Etihad was welcomed by Air Cargo Maximus as a founding partner of a new international initiative by the UAE called ‘Care in the Air’ to support worldwide human relief operations, by providing aid ‘at cost’ to regions in need.
Mr Hogan concluded: “In six years, Etihad has grown to take its place on the global stage, recognised as a serious airline, with serious long-term ambitions.
“Over the next decade, we will see continued expansion of our services around the globe. The heavy investment in the growth and economic diversification of Abu Dhabi is contributing to that development, and we are planning now to meet those future demands.
“But at every stage, we will take a commercial view of our investment strategy, so we can be sure of delivering a satisfactory return to our shareholder.”
Thursday, November 12, 2009
AMERICAN AIRLINES CHIEF WANTS JAL DEAL
The CEO of American Airlines said on Monday that Japan Airlines would be taking a risk and suffer financially if it breaks ties with American and joins an alliance with Delta Air Lines.
Gerard Arpey said that American and its partner airlines "produce hundreds of millions of dollars of value for JAL" and want to strengthen ties.
Arpey made the comments in Mexico City at a meeting of the oneworld alliance of global airlines, which includes American, British Airways and JAL. Delta belongs to another alliance, SkyTeam, and is trying to lure JAL away from oneworld.
American and Delta have battled over JAL for several weeks, largely in private. Arpey's remarks elevated the fight by marking the most detailed public comments by either CEO.
Last month, Delta CEO Richard Anderson declined to answer questions about JAL. But he said Delta and SkyTeam partner Air France-KLM have shown an ability to develop successful alliances with their trans-Atlantic business.
The stakes in the JAL battle are high for American, a unit of AMR. Arpey told his own executives last month that if JaL jumps to Delta's team, "that would certainly be very bad for us".
Both AMR and Delta are seeking a minority stake in JAL, which has been looking for an injection of captial and help from the government.
Delta and American covet JAL because of its extensive routes in Japan and China. By having JAL as a partner since the mid-1990s, American has been able to sell those routes to its own customers and share in the revenue. American and JAL offer reciprocal frequent-flier privileges to each other's passengers.
Arpey has said the partnership with JAL allows American to win customers away from United and Delta's Northwest Airlines unit, both of which fly from the US to Tokyo.
Gerard Arpey said that American and its partner airlines "produce hundreds of millions of dollars of value for JAL" and want to strengthen ties.
Arpey made the comments in Mexico City at a meeting of the oneworld alliance of global airlines, which includes American, British Airways and JAL. Delta belongs to another alliance, SkyTeam, and is trying to lure JAL away from oneworld.
American and Delta have battled over JAL for several weeks, largely in private. Arpey's remarks elevated the fight by marking the most detailed public comments by either CEO.
Last month, Delta CEO Richard Anderson declined to answer questions about JAL. But he said Delta and SkyTeam partner Air France-KLM have shown an ability to develop successful alliances with their trans-Atlantic business.
The stakes in the JAL battle are high for American, a unit of AMR. Arpey told his own executives last month that if JaL jumps to Delta's team, "that would certainly be very bad for us".
Both AMR and Delta are seeking a minority stake in JAL, which has been looking for an injection of captial and help from the government.
Delta and American covet JAL because of its extensive routes in Japan and China. By having JAL as a partner since the mid-1990s, American has been able to sell those routes to its own customers and share in the revenue. American and JAL offer reciprocal frequent-flier privileges to each other's passengers.
Arpey has said the partnership with JAL allows American to win customers away from United and Delta's Northwest Airlines unit, both of which fly from the US to Tokyo.
Awaken your travel spirit and enjoy life, in your style
Awaken your travel spirit and enjoy life, in your style
When winter breezes begin, the urge to trael begins to stir. This is the time of year when a festive atmosphere fills the air and people are ready to take wing. During winter there are numerous places around the globe that come alive with celebrations and enjoyment of the cold weather, unless you travel Down Under that is. Whether your quest is a natural winter wonderland, shop to you drop, or to simply enjoy life in another place for a few days, THAI recommends these destinations that will awaken your travel spirit.
Fly THAI to Oslo, Moscow, Varanasi, Brisbane, Los Angeles, Milan, Seioul and Tokyo.
for more information, and online bookings visit www.thaiairways.com
For reservations call THAI Contact Center 0-2356-1111 or your travel agent.
A STAR ALLIANCE MEMBER
ADVERTISEMENT
Embark on a "Journey of Faith" with THAI ValuePlus Card
THAI is proud to introduce the THAI ValuePlusCard, a prepaid airfare card that allows you to admire cultural destinations and Buddhist landmarks across Asia at affordable prices. The THAI ValuePlus Card is your ticket to Asia's major pilgrimage routes including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Myanmar, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Korea, Japan as well as India and Nepal, places where the Lord Buddha found enlightenment.
The launch of the THAI ValuePlus Card was held at Fashion Gallery. Siam Paragon. THAI ValuePlus Card is available now until February 28, 2010.
Set off on a religious pilgrimage tour with THAI ValuePlus Card. For more information call THAI Contact Center 0-2356-1111 or visit www.thaiairways.com
THAI at ITB Asia 2009
THAI in Singapore, represented by General manager Anivat Tailanga and his sales team, participated in ITB Asia II at Suntec City, Singapore from 21-23 October 2009 with the theme "Smooth as Silk Experience through touches of THAI". The THAI booth received an overshelming response from those attending from the tourism industry, including hotel oprators and airline partners.
ITB Asia is one of the world's leading travel trade shows, a spin off from the annual ITB Berlin in Germany. This was the second year for ITB Asia, a good indication that the tourism industry in Asia is approaching the same high potential as that in Europe. There were three major halls whichh were each dedicated to an industry segment; hotels, tour operators and airlines from participating countries. This was the first time that THAI participated at ITB Asia.
Malaysia Big Surprise!
Fly Thai to Malaysia and enjoy a bird's eye view of the Petronas towers, the world's tallest twin buildings. Visit Penang, the "Pearl of the Orient", and enjoy the host of sports activities on offer. Penang's architectural beauty is rich in centuries-old history reflected in the colonial buildings that line its strees. book online now and enjoy special airfares before November 30, 2009.
*Conditions:
The credit card is required and credit card owner must also travel and present this credit card at the Airport Check-in prevention of deny boarding.
This promotion is available for online internet reservation only. Unable to purchase through any of THAI Ticketing Offices or THAI Sales Agents.
Reservation/Ticketing/Departure date between November 1-30, 2009.
Last departure date from Bangkok no later than Nobember 30, 2009.
Fore more information, please visit www.thaiairways.com.
When winter breezes begin, the urge to trael begins to stir. This is the time of year when a festive atmosphere fills the air and people are ready to take wing. During winter there are numerous places around the globe that come alive with celebrations and enjoyment of the cold weather, unless you travel Down Under that is. Whether your quest is a natural winter wonderland, shop to you drop, or to simply enjoy life in another place for a few days, THAI recommends these destinations that will awaken your travel spirit.
Fly THAI to Oslo, Moscow, Varanasi, Brisbane, Los Angeles, Milan, Seioul and Tokyo.
for more information, and online bookings visit www.thaiairways.com
For reservations call THAI Contact Center 0-2356-1111 or your travel agent.
A STAR ALLIANCE MEMBER
ADVERTISEMENT
Embark on a "Journey of Faith" with THAI ValuePlus Card
THAI is proud to introduce the THAI ValuePlusCard, a prepaid airfare card that allows you to admire cultural destinations and Buddhist landmarks across Asia at affordable prices. The THAI ValuePlus Card is your ticket to Asia's major pilgrimage routes including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Myanmar, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Korea, Japan as well as India and Nepal, places where the Lord Buddha found enlightenment.
The launch of the THAI ValuePlus Card was held at Fashion Gallery. Siam Paragon. THAI ValuePlus Card is available now until February 28, 2010.
Set off on a religious pilgrimage tour with THAI ValuePlus Card. For more information call THAI Contact Center 0-2356-1111 or visit www.thaiairways.com
THAI at ITB Asia 2009
THAI in Singapore, represented by General manager Anivat Tailanga and his sales team, participated in ITB Asia II at Suntec City, Singapore from 21-23 October 2009 with the theme "Smooth as Silk Experience through touches of THAI". The THAI booth received an overshelming response from those attending from the tourism industry, including hotel oprators and airline partners.
ITB Asia is one of the world's leading travel trade shows, a spin off from the annual ITB Berlin in Germany. This was the second year for ITB Asia, a good indication that the tourism industry in Asia is approaching the same high potential as that in Europe. There were three major halls whichh were each dedicated to an industry segment; hotels, tour operators and airlines from participating countries. This was the first time that THAI participated at ITB Asia.
Malaysia Big Surprise!
Fly Thai to Malaysia and enjoy a bird's eye view of the Petronas towers, the world's tallest twin buildings. Visit Penang, the "Pearl of the Orient", and enjoy the host of sports activities on offer. Penang's architectural beauty is rich in centuries-old history reflected in the colonial buildings that line its strees. book online now and enjoy special airfares before November 30, 2009.
*Conditions:
The credit card is required and credit card owner must also travel and present this credit card at the Airport Check-in prevention of deny boarding.
This promotion is available for online internet reservation only. Unable to purchase through any of THAI Ticketing Offices or THAI Sales Agents.
Reservation/Ticketing/Departure date between November 1-30, 2009.
Last departure date from Bangkok no later than Nobember 30, 2009.
Fore more information, please visit www.thaiairways.com.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
CARRIES COULD MISS REVENUE, PROFIT TARGETS
Thai Airways International could miss its revenue target of Bt150 billion this year due to the fluctuation in oil prices and a low passenger yield, its president Piyasvasti Amranand said yesterday.
The national carrier may also fail to achieve this year's profit target of Bt7 billion, he said.
"The overall operation in the third quarter was positive, with a higher load factor. However, we are still facing a crisis," Piyasvasti said at a press conference.
THAI in the first half of the year registered Bt75.9 billion in revenue and Bt2.47 billion in net profit. It has not yet released third-quarter financial results.
The company earlier lowered its revenue target from Bt180 billion to Bt150 billion, due to political instability and the global economic crisis. Last year's revenue was Bt202.6 billion.
Passenger yield in the third quarter was Bt1.90 per seat per kilometre, compared to Bt2.20 in the same period last year.
The yield is forecast to rise to Bt2.10 next year, Piyasvasti said.
He said THAI would hold an executive management workshop on Monday and Tuesday to discuss how the airline should handle the current situation. The working group will also evaluate overall operations in the current quarter. A press conference will be held after the two-day meeting.
The company will submit the conclusions reached to the executive board on November 18 for further action.
Piyasvasti said one of the cost-cutting measures being implemented was to reduce the number of free tickets and privileges. The airline issues 180,000 free tickets each year to the company's staff, as well as to current and former executives.
"We will cut back on free tickets just during this peak season from November to January, in order to reduce operating costs," he said.
Meanwhile, the executive board yesterday appointed three directors to new executive positions, with immediate effect. Woranate Laprabang, formerly director for the Strategic implementation and evalution department, is appointed vice president for corporate strategtgy and planning development.
Jirawan Chaisakul, formerly director of the product and service information system department, is appointed vice president for the information technology services department.
Ruangyos Pamonmontri, formerly director of the Europe and Africa department, is appionted vice president for the sales and distribution department.
The national carrier may also fail to achieve this year's profit target of Bt7 billion, he said.
"The overall operation in the third quarter was positive, with a higher load factor. However, we are still facing a crisis," Piyasvasti said at a press conference.
THAI in the first half of the year registered Bt75.9 billion in revenue and Bt2.47 billion in net profit. It has not yet released third-quarter financial results.
The company earlier lowered its revenue target from Bt180 billion to Bt150 billion, due to political instability and the global economic crisis. Last year's revenue was Bt202.6 billion.
Passenger yield in the third quarter was Bt1.90 per seat per kilometre, compared to Bt2.20 in the same period last year.
The yield is forecast to rise to Bt2.10 next year, Piyasvasti said.
He said THAI would hold an executive management workshop on Monday and Tuesday to discuss how the airline should handle the current situation. The working group will also evaluate overall operations in the current quarter. A press conference will be held after the two-day meeting.
The company will submit the conclusions reached to the executive board on November 18 for further action.
Piyasvasti said one of the cost-cutting measures being implemented was to reduce the number of free tickets and privileges. The airline issues 180,000 free tickets each year to the company's staff, as well as to current and former executives.
"We will cut back on free tickets just during this peak season from November to January, in order to reduce operating costs," he said.
Meanwhile, the executive board yesterday appointed three directors to new executive positions, with immediate effect. Woranate Laprabang, formerly director for the Strategic implementation and evalution department, is appointed vice president for corporate strategtgy and planning development.
Jirawan Chaisakul, formerly director of the product and service information system department, is appointed vice president for the information technology services department.
Ruangyos Pamonmontri, formerly director of the Europe and Africa department, is appionted vice president for the sales and distribution department.
Flower extravaganza set to return
The floral extravaganza Ratchaphruek Festival returns to Chiang Mai next month from Dec 1-10 to celebrate the 82nd birthday anniversary of His Majesty the King, the world's longest reigning monarch.
Organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives,the provincial administration and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the festival is expected to draw more than 200,000 visitors.
According to Juthaporn Rerngronasa, TAT's deputy governor for marketing communications, on Dec 5,which is the King's birthday,there will be a grand ceremony involving the lighting of candles and offering of prayers wishing His Majesty sound health,followed by fireworks and light and sound presentation.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will preside over the festival opening on Dec 1 when he'd join local notaries to release 999 floating lanterns, followed by Thai classical dances from the four regions of the country,with 99 performers from each region.
Taking place at the same venue that played host to the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek held to celebrate the 60th anniversary of His Majesty's accension to the throne in 2006, the festival is an exhibition of flowers, plants and fruits,sale of farm products, handicrafts and OTOP goods, and contests featuring farm commodities.
The event three years ago featured roughly 2.5 million plants and flowers,including some rare orchids, and drew about as many visitors.
"The festival should help boost tourism and raise hotel occupancy in Chiang Mai," said the deputy governor.
A first in Chanthaburi
Launched on Oct 26 in Chanthaburi,the first training centre for management of shipwrecks and underwater cultural heritage brings together 16 archaeologists from across the Southeast Asia region.
The training programme is a part-nership between Unesco, the Ministry of Culture and the Underwater Archaeology Division of the Department of Fine Arts.
"Thousands of historical items have already been stolen by treasure hunters and if preventative measures are not put into place to combat the illegal trade,even more priceless treasures will disappear from Asian waters," said Ricardo Favis of Unesco's Bangkok office, adding "Asian maritime archaeologists are still in their infancy, so we must improve their knowledge and skills."
The first batch comprises trainees from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand.The course runs until Dec 5. It is conducted by experts from Australia, England and Holland, and covers subjects such as maritime law,in situ preservation of shipwrecks and underwater sites, museology, treasure hunters and monitoring techniques, shipbuilding technology and ethnographic boat recording.
The Chantaburi facility is one of the best-equipped in the region and located in proximity of shipwreck sites, allowing the trainees to field-test practical skills.
Major TAT push in Moscow
The Tourism Authority of Thailand's (TAT) office in Moscow has embarked on a major offensive after the number of Russians visiting Thailand dropped 29.43 per cent in the first four months of this year.
In 2008, Russian visitors to Thailand totaled 319,587, up 14.23%over the previous year, and generated 16.24 billion baht in tourism revenue. During 2002-08, the number of Russian visitors to Thailand grew by an annual average of 28.79% while their spending grew by 32.76% annually. However, the global financial crisis saw their number drop by 29.43% during January to April this year.
Therefore TAT's Moscow office launched the "Welcome to Thailand Mega Fam" campaign last week, reining in 70 Russian travel agents and media representatives to its cause."Our research shows many opportunities for growth," said Juthaporn Rerngronasa, TAT's deputy governor in charge of marketing communications."Russia is mainly a winter-season market as Russians love our warm weather, the beaches and the sea. Many also enjoy learning diving and exploring underwater treasures around the Andamans and the Gulf of Thailand."
TAT is targetting high-end tourists and meeting delegates through tour packages to Bangkok with a detour to neighbouring countries, and expects the campaign to generate 293,000 visitors from Russian alone, not to mention the Central Asian republics, for a turnover of roughly 14.03 billion baht this winter.
Park encroachment
The Department of National Park,Wildlife and Plant Conservation last week raided a marine park in Trang Province,the site of a private resort, and seized 20 workers before ordering a halt to further construction.
Almost 80 per cent complete the resort,valued at 20 million baht, belongs to a Songkhla businessman. Located in Hat Chao Mai Marine Park, it's built on a strip of land where construction is forbidden.
The raid followed complaints from locals. Somchai Masathien, director of the Forest Fire Control Division led a 50-strong force to the construction site and arrested the workers, after which he told the local media that the building will be demolished.
Tiger resumes flights
Anticipating a rise in passenger traffic during the upcoming tourist season, Tiger Airways has resumed flights between Singapore and Krabi.
"We are very excited about the resumption of Krabi flights. With four flights a week you now have an additional choice of a holiday destination," said Tiger Airways Managing Director Rosalynn Tay.
All of them are afternoon flights available Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The start-up price is at 535 baht excluding surcharges.
Visit www.tigerairways.com for more information.
Organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives,the provincial administration and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the festival is expected to draw more than 200,000 visitors.
According to Juthaporn Rerngronasa, TAT's deputy governor for marketing communications, on Dec 5,which is the King's birthday,there will be a grand ceremony involving the lighting of candles and offering of prayers wishing His Majesty sound health,followed by fireworks and light and sound presentation.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will preside over the festival opening on Dec 1 when he'd join local notaries to release 999 floating lanterns, followed by Thai classical dances from the four regions of the country,with 99 performers from each region.
Taking place at the same venue that played host to the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek held to celebrate the 60th anniversary of His Majesty's accension to the throne in 2006, the festival is an exhibition of flowers, plants and fruits,sale of farm products, handicrafts and OTOP goods, and contests featuring farm commodities.
The event three years ago featured roughly 2.5 million plants and flowers,including some rare orchids, and drew about as many visitors.
"The festival should help boost tourism and raise hotel occupancy in Chiang Mai," said the deputy governor.
A first in Chanthaburi
Launched on Oct 26 in Chanthaburi,the first training centre for management of shipwrecks and underwater cultural heritage brings together 16 archaeologists from across the Southeast Asia region.
The training programme is a part-nership between Unesco, the Ministry of Culture and the Underwater Archaeology Division of the Department of Fine Arts.
"Thousands of historical items have already been stolen by treasure hunters and if preventative measures are not put into place to combat the illegal trade,even more priceless treasures will disappear from Asian waters," said Ricardo Favis of Unesco's Bangkok office, adding "Asian maritime archaeologists are still in their infancy, so we must improve their knowledge and skills."
The first batch comprises trainees from Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand.The course runs until Dec 5. It is conducted by experts from Australia, England and Holland, and covers subjects such as maritime law,in situ preservation of shipwrecks and underwater sites, museology, treasure hunters and monitoring techniques, shipbuilding technology and ethnographic boat recording.
The Chantaburi facility is one of the best-equipped in the region and located in proximity of shipwreck sites, allowing the trainees to field-test practical skills.
Major TAT push in Moscow
The Tourism Authority of Thailand's (TAT) office in Moscow has embarked on a major offensive after the number of Russians visiting Thailand dropped 29.43 per cent in the first four months of this year.
In 2008, Russian visitors to Thailand totaled 319,587, up 14.23%over the previous year, and generated 16.24 billion baht in tourism revenue. During 2002-08, the number of Russian visitors to Thailand grew by an annual average of 28.79% while their spending grew by 32.76% annually. However, the global financial crisis saw their number drop by 29.43% during January to April this year.
Therefore TAT's Moscow office launched the "Welcome to Thailand Mega Fam" campaign last week, reining in 70 Russian travel agents and media representatives to its cause."Our research shows many opportunities for growth," said Juthaporn Rerngronasa, TAT's deputy governor in charge of marketing communications."Russia is mainly a winter-season market as Russians love our warm weather, the beaches and the sea. Many also enjoy learning diving and exploring underwater treasures around the Andamans and the Gulf of Thailand."
TAT is targetting high-end tourists and meeting delegates through tour packages to Bangkok with a detour to neighbouring countries, and expects the campaign to generate 293,000 visitors from Russian alone, not to mention the Central Asian republics, for a turnover of roughly 14.03 billion baht this winter.
Park encroachment
The Department of National Park,Wildlife and Plant Conservation last week raided a marine park in Trang Province,the site of a private resort, and seized 20 workers before ordering a halt to further construction.
Almost 80 per cent complete the resort,valued at 20 million baht, belongs to a Songkhla businessman. Located in Hat Chao Mai Marine Park, it's built on a strip of land where construction is forbidden.
The raid followed complaints from locals. Somchai Masathien, director of the Forest Fire Control Division led a 50-strong force to the construction site and arrested the workers, after which he told the local media that the building will be demolished.
Tiger resumes flights
Anticipating a rise in passenger traffic during the upcoming tourist season, Tiger Airways has resumed flights between Singapore and Krabi.
"We are very excited about the resumption of Krabi flights. With four flights a week you now have an additional choice of a holiday destination," said Tiger Airways Managing Director Rosalynn Tay.
All of them are afternoon flights available Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The start-up price is at 535 baht excluding surcharges.
Visit www.tigerairways.com for more information.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Flying high with Iron Maiden frontman
Bruce Dickinson likes to fly some heavy metal - about 109,000kg of it - when he's not performing as Iron Maiden's frontman.On the band's 2008/9"Somewhere Back In Time World Tour"- showcased on the new DVD Flight 666 which was voted best music documentary at this year's South-by-Southwest Festival Dickinson pulled double duty as lead singer and the chief pilot on the band's customised Boeing 757.
He'd wear his Astraeus Airlines uniform - white shirt with epaulets and pressed trousers - when flying between tour stops. Then, he'd leap around the stage in outlandish costumes - donning a red 19th-century British army tunic while singing The Trooper or a feathered mask for Powerslave .After the shows, as the band's "designated driver", he had to refrain from late-night carousing, turning in early and avoiding any drinking in order to meet aviation industry regulations for mandatory rest periods and zero bloodalcohol content.
But Dickinson didn't mind "being a party pooper" since the tour offered a chance to combine his passions for flying and rock music.
"The only caveat is that I was working much harder than everybody else," said Dickinson."But I never get tired of going to work because I just think that singing with Iron Maiden and flying a jet airliner are the two best jobs in the world."
The legendary UK heavy metal band - which earlier this year won a Brit Award for best live act - wrapped up its tour in early April after performing before nearly 2 million fans in 38 countries. Maiden's other members founder and bassist Steve Harris, drummer Nicko McBrain, and guitarists Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and Janick Gers - scattered to their homes for a monthslong break with plans to regroup later this year to begin work on a new album due out in 2010.
But Dickinson quickly returned to his day job as a commercial airline captain for Astraeus, which leases airplanes and crews to other airlines.He has been making regular passenger runs to such far-flung locales as Kyrgyzstan, Sierra Leone and Djibouti.
It's not as if the 51-year-old Dickinson,who has written two novels and hosts rock programs on BBC Radio, needs his pilot's salary. Iron Maiden remains one of the most enduring and successful heavy metal bands with record sales of more than 70 million since their 1980 debut album.
But Dickinson finds that being in the cockpit of a 757 offers a welcome respite from the frenzied life of a touring rock star.
"It's just you, the airplane and the sky and going where you're going and it's quite pleasant," he said."It's quite a nice little Zen moment."
Dickinson earns high marks from Astraeus' Chief Executive Mario Fulgoni,who is also a commercial airline captain,for "possessing both a high degree of professionalism and intense enthusiasm for flying".
"That he has other careers is irrelevant to his capability as a pilot and his rock star status in no way detracts from his performance as an airline captain,"Fulgoni said in an email message.
Dickinson, who no longer sports the shoulder-length hair of his younger days,says that his passengers, who recently included the president of Sierra Leone,rarely make the connection with his rock star persona. It's hard to imagine that the pilot who matter-of-factly goes through the safety regulations or reassures passengers about some turbulence is the singer whose screaming vocals on songs like Bring Your Daughter ... to the Slaughter earned him the nickname "The Air-Raid Siren".
Dickinson, who hosted the aviation series Flying Heavy Metal for Discovery Channel (UK), says his passion for flight goes back to his childhood, His godfather and uncle were both engineers in the Royal Air Force, and he'd regularly attend air shows and decorate his room with squadrons of plastic model airplanes.
But Dickinson put his dreams of flying on hold when he became enamoured with rock as a teenager and began singing with the first wave of UK heavy metal bands in the late '70s, performing with Samson before joining Iron Maiden in 1981.
Dickinson began his pilot training in the early '90s at a Florida airport while on a family vacation. With the same determination that made him a Top 10-ranked UK fencer in the 1980s,Dickinson passed his private pilot's licence test and obtained a licence to fly commercial jets.
"I was genuinely doing it as an alternative career in case music all fell on his head," said Dickinson, who had left Maiden in 1993 to pursue a solo career before rejoining the band in 1999.
Dickinson landed an entry pilot's job with British World Airlines in 2000, and when that airline folded after September 11,2001, signed on with the newly formed Astraeus.
Dickinson has kept flying with Astraeus even though Maiden has enjoyed a recent resurgence, releasing new albums such as A Matter of Life and Death (2006) as well as its older hits on video games like Rock Band that have attracted a new generation of young fans to go along with their older audience who've been into the band since the '80s.
On their latest tour, Maiden decided to revisit some of their hits from their '80s albums - including The Number of the Beast ,Powerslave and Somewhere In Time - so their young fans could hear them performed live.
"We love what we do and we've never compromised with the demands of media industry or musical fashion," said Dickinson."We've always plowed our own somewhat eccentric and stubborn furrow and there's obviously a lot of people that respect that....
"Iron Maiden is ultimately all about the fans and that's what makes the Flight 666 documentary great for me.... It's not about the egos of the band ... or to bolster our self-importance."
For the tour, Dickinson helped design and modify the band's leased plane,giving it fewer passenger seats and enough cargo space to carry 12 tonnes of equipment. That gave the band the mobility to cover more ground in less time - avoiding costly stopovers and making it economically feasible to perform in such countries as Costa Rica for the first time and reach fans in remote locales such as Manaus, Brazil's Amazon regional capital. Astaeus now offers the design to other customers.
The plane - dubbed "Ed Force One"- was decorated with the band's logo along the side. However, Astraeus ended up painting over the Iron Maiden decorations between legs of the tour after some passengers in Ghana balked at boarding a plane with the band's grinning zombie mascot "Eddie" on the tail fin fearing it was haunted, Dickinson said.
Dickinson does see a link in the precise teamwork required to get a plane to its destination and to pull off an intricately staged arena rock show.
"Obviously as a pilot ... everything seems to be in control," said Dickinson."And people look at rock musicians and think, yeah, they're wild and crazy and it's all out of control up there and backstage must be a war zone full of groupies and drugs....
"But you have to be very disciplined to do what we do in Iron Maiden and you can't survive for a career as long as ours without having some serious degree of dedication. It's not all madness and ... the only way that we can allow ourselves to do what we do to our bodies on stage every night is actually to be fairly in control of what we are doing. It just looks like it's crazy."
He'd wear his Astraeus Airlines uniform - white shirt with epaulets and pressed trousers - when flying between tour stops. Then, he'd leap around the stage in outlandish costumes - donning a red 19th-century British army tunic while singing The Trooper or a feathered mask for Powerslave .After the shows, as the band's "designated driver", he had to refrain from late-night carousing, turning in early and avoiding any drinking in order to meet aviation industry regulations for mandatory rest periods and zero bloodalcohol content.
But Dickinson didn't mind "being a party pooper" since the tour offered a chance to combine his passions for flying and rock music.
"The only caveat is that I was working much harder than everybody else," said Dickinson."But I never get tired of going to work because I just think that singing with Iron Maiden and flying a jet airliner are the two best jobs in the world."
The legendary UK heavy metal band - which earlier this year won a Brit Award for best live act - wrapped up its tour in early April after performing before nearly 2 million fans in 38 countries. Maiden's other members founder and bassist Steve Harris, drummer Nicko McBrain, and guitarists Dave Murray, Adrian Smith and Janick Gers - scattered to their homes for a monthslong break with plans to regroup later this year to begin work on a new album due out in 2010.
But Dickinson quickly returned to his day job as a commercial airline captain for Astraeus, which leases airplanes and crews to other airlines.He has been making regular passenger runs to such far-flung locales as Kyrgyzstan, Sierra Leone and Djibouti.
It's not as if the 51-year-old Dickinson,who has written two novels and hosts rock programs on BBC Radio, needs his pilot's salary. Iron Maiden remains one of the most enduring and successful heavy metal bands with record sales of more than 70 million since their 1980 debut album.
But Dickinson finds that being in the cockpit of a 757 offers a welcome respite from the frenzied life of a touring rock star.
"It's just you, the airplane and the sky and going where you're going and it's quite pleasant," he said."It's quite a nice little Zen moment."
Dickinson earns high marks from Astraeus' Chief Executive Mario Fulgoni,who is also a commercial airline captain,for "possessing both a high degree of professionalism and intense enthusiasm for flying".
"That he has other careers is irrelevant to his capability as a pilot and his rock star status in no way detracts from his performance as an airline captain,"Fulgoni said in an email message.
Dickinson, who no longer sports the shoulder-length hair of his younger days,says that his passengers, who recently included the president of Sierra Leone,rarely make the connection with his rock star persona. It's hard to imagine that the pilot who matter-of-factly goes through the safety regulations or reassures passengers about some turbulence is the singer whose screaming vocals on songs like Bring Your Daughter ... to the Slaughter earned him the nickname "The Air-Raid Siren".
Dickinson, who hosted the aviation series Flying Heavy Metal for Discovery Channel (UK), says his passion for flight goes back to his childhood, His godfather and uncle were both engineers in the Royal Air Force, and he'd regularly attend air shows and decorate his room with squadrons of plastic model airplanes.
But Dickinson put his dreams of flying on hold when he became enamoured with rock as a teenager and began singing with the first wave of UK heavy metal bands in the late '70s, performing with Samson before joining Iron Maiden in 1981.
Dickinson began his pilot training in the early '90s at a Florida airport while on a family vacation. With the same determination that made him a Top 10-ranked UK fencer in the 1980s,Dickinson passed his private pilot's licence test and obtained a licence to fly commercial jets.
"I was genuinely doing it as an alternative career in case music all fell on his head," said Dickinson, who had left Maiden in 1993 to pursue a solo career before rejoining the band in 1999.
Dickinson landed an entry pilot's job with British World Airlines in 2000, and when that airline folded after September 11,2001, signed on with the newly formed Astraeus.
Dickinson has kept flying with Astraeus even though Maiden has enjoyed a recent resurgence, releasing new albums such as A Matter of Life and Death (2006) as well as its older hits on video games like Rock Band that have attracted a new generation of young fans to go along with their older audience who've been into the band since the '80s.
On their latest tour, Maiden decided to revisit some of their hits from their '80s albums - including The Number of the Beast ,Powerslave and Somewhere In Time - so their young fans could hear them performed live.
"We love what we do and we've never compromised with the demands of media industry or musical fashion," said Dickinson."We've always plowed our own somewhat eccentric and stubborn furrow and there's obviously a lot of people that respect that....
"Iron Maiden is ultimately all about the fans and that's what makes the Flight 666 documentary great for me.... It's not about the egos of the band ... or to bolster our self-importance."
For the tour, Dickinson helped design and modify the band's leased plane,giving it fewer passenger seats and enough cargo space to carry 12 tonnes of equipment. That gave the band the mobility to cover more ground in less time - avoiding costly stopovers and making it economically feasible to perform in such countries as Costa Rica for the first time and reach fans in remote locales such as Manaus, Brazil's Amazon regional capital. Astaeus now offers the design to other customers.
The plane - dubbed "Ed Force One"- was decorated with the band's logo along the side. However, Astraeus ended up painting over the Iron Maiden decorations between legs of the tour after some passengers in Ghana balked at boarding a plane with the band's grinning zombie mascot "Eddie" on the tail fin fearing it was haunted, Dickinson said.
Dickinson does see a link in the precise teamwork required to get a plane to its destination and to pull off an intricately staged arena rock show.
"Obviously as a pilot ... everything seems to be in control," said Dickinson."And people look at rock musicians and think, yeah, they're wild and crazy and it's all out of control up there and backstage must be a war zone full of groupies and drugs....
"But you have to be very disciplined to do what we do in Iron Maiden and you can't survive for a career as long as ours without having some serious degree of dedication. It's not all madness and ... the only way that we can allow ourselves to do what we do to our bodies on stage every night is actually to be fairly in control of what we are doing. It just looks like it's crazy."
"FLYING WHILE MUSLIM" CASE A LESSON TO ALL
In a move that should be a learning experience for aviation security,immigration and security authorities worldwide, US Airways last month agreed to an out-of-court settlement of a lawsuit filed by six imams, or Islamic religious leaders, who were arrested after being removed from a US Airways flight in Minnesota in 2006.
The six religious leaders will receive an undisclosed amount in compensation.Confidentiality clauses prevented further details from being disclosed but a statement said the case was resolved to "the satisfaction of all parties".
The Washington DC-based Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR)hailed the settlement, which has been almost totally ignored by the global travel media. Full details are available at www.flyingwhilemuslim.org.
"[It] is a clear victory for justice and civil rights over fear and the phenomenon of 'flying while Muslim' in the post-9/11 era," said Nihad Awad, national executive director of the CAIR.
Last July, US District Judge Ann Montgomery in Minnesota cleared the way for a trial by denying several motions to dismiss the case and ruling that a law passed by Congress after the incident did not grant protection from lawsuits to those sued by the imams.
The judge also ruled that the actions of the imams prior to their flight did not justify their detention. She noted that they were subjected to "extreme fear and humiliation of being falsely identified as dangerous terrorists" and said "similar behaviour by Russian Orthodox priests or Franciscan monks would likely not have elicited this response".
In an opinion piece in USA Today,CAIR's national communications director Ibrahim Hooper called for a global ban on religious and racial profiling.
He said that while the settlement should not prevent anyone from acting on legitimate security concerns,"reports based solely on anti-Muslim or antiArab bias and hysteria should not be used as the basis for a 'flying while Muslim' incident.
"Absent actual suspicious behaviour,merely offering one of the five-daily Islamic prayers in a terminal, speaking Arabic to a fellow passenger, wearing a head scarf, or 'looking Muslim' is insufficient justification to detain passengers or remove them from a flight.
"American Muslims are just as concerned about flight safety and security as citizens of other faiths. They and their families take the same flights and are subject to the same risks as other members of the travelling public. Flight safety should be based on legitimate law enforcement techniques, not on racial or religious profiling."
Mr Hooper said that in the increasingly diverse society America has become, it must seek to "prevent situations in which stereotypes or bias can create a snowball effect of escalating discrimination.
"Our nation's history has been marred by periods in which groups - whether Irish Americans, African Americans,Japanese Americans, or others - were deemed appropriate targets for discrimination. Thankfully, Americans are capable of looking beyond the prejudices of the moment to see a future of equal treatment for all."
The case, which galvanised Muslim travellers worldwide who are frequently to subjected to racial and religious profiling at airports and border checkpoints, was set to go further in a lawsuit against the Minnesota airport operator, US Airways and possibly the FBI on the grounds of improper arrest and other acts of discrimination.
The Minnesota Post noted that Congress had passed a law - and cited the Minnesota case as the motivation designed to protect people from reporting their suspicions under circumstances such as those involving the imams.
"The imams, and the way they were arrested, became for a time the symbol of the post-9/11 national nervousness about Middle Easterners on airplanes and for the allegation that you could get arrested for the 'crime" of 'flying while Muslim'," wrote commentator Eric Black.
"The nervousness was understandable, but that didn't make it constitutional....[E]ven the shock of the 9/11 attacks didn't repeal the simple rule that police cannot arrest someone unless they have probable cause to believe that the arrestees have committed a crime.
"As you review the facts of the case,ask yourself which of the 'suspicious'actions of the imams would have been suspicious if they had not been Muslims."
Imtiaz Muqbil is executive editor of Travel Impact Newswire, an e-mailed feature and analysis service focusing on the Asia-Pacific travel industry.
The six religious leaders will receive an undisclosed amount in compensation.Confidentiality clauses prevented further details from being disclosed but a statement said the case was resolved to "the satisfaction of all parties".
The Washington DC-based Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR)hailed the settlement, which has been almost totally ignored by the global travel media. Full details are available at www.flyingwhilemuslim.org.
"[It] is a clear victory for justice and civil rights over fear and the phenomenon of 'flying while Muslim' in the post-9/11 era," said Nihad Awad, national executive director of the CAIR.
Last July, US District Judge Ann Montgomery in Minnesota cleared the way for a trial by denying several motions to dismiss the case and ruling that a law passed by Congress after the incident did not grant protection from lawsuits to those sued by the imams.
The judge also ruled that the actions of the imams prior to their flight did not justify their detention. She noted that they were subjected to "extreme fear and humiliation of being falsely identified as dangerous terrorists" and said "similar behaviour by Russian Orthodox priests or Franciscan monks would likely not have elicited this response".
In an opinion piece in USA Today,CAIR's national communications director Ibrahim Hooper called for a global ban on religious and racial profiling.
He said that while the settlement should not prevent anyone from acting on legitimate security concerns,"reports based solely on anti-Muslim or antiArab bias and hysteria should not be used as the basis for a 'flying while Muslim' incident.
"Absent actual suspicious behaviour,merely offering one of the five-daily Islamic prayers in a terminal, speaking Arabic to a fellow passenger, wearing a head scarf, or 'looking Muslim' is insufficient justification to detain passengers or remove them from a flight.
"American Muslims are just as concerned about flight safety and security as citizens of other faiths. They and their families take the same flights and are subject to the same risks as other members of the travelling public. Flight safety should be based on legitimate law enforcement techniques, not on racial or religious profiling."
Mr Hooper said that in the increasingly diverse society America has become, it must seek to "prevent situations in which stereotypes or bias can create a snowball effect of escalating discrimination.
"Our nation's history has been marred by periods in which groups - whether Irish Americans, African Americans,Japanese Americans, or others - were deemed appropriate targets for discrimination. Thankfully, Americans are capable of looking beyond the prejudices of the moment to see a future of equal treatment for all."
The case, which galvanised Muslim travellers worldwide who are frequently to subjected to racial and religious profiling at airports and border checkpoints, was set to go further in a lawsuit against the Minnesota airport operator, US Airways and possibly the FBI on the grounds of improper arrest and other acts of discrimination.
The Minnesota Post noted that Congress had passed a law - and cited the Minnesota case as the motivation designed to protect people from reporting their suspicions under circumstances such as those involving the imams.
"The imams, and the way they were arrested, became for a time the symbol of the post-9/11 national nervousness about Middle Easterners on airplanes and for the allegation that you could get arrested for the 'crime" of 'flying while Muslim'," wrote commentator Eric Black.
"The nervousness was understandable, but that didn't make it constitutional....[E]ven the shock of the 9/11 attacks didn't repeal the simple rule that police cannot arrest someone unless they have probable cause to believe that the arrestees have committed a crime.
"As you review the facts of the case,ask yourself which of the 'suspicious'actions of the imams would have been suspicious if they had not been Muslims."
Imtiaz Muqbil is executive editor of Travel Impact Newswire, an e-mailed feature and analysis service focusing on the Asia-Pacific travel industry.
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