Cunard Officially Welcomes New Ship Queen Anne With Ceremony At Fincantieri Shipyard

She's the next in a fine line for Cunard, Queen Anne officially joined the luxury cruise line's iconic fleet during a historic handover ceremony in Italy.

Cunard took ownership of their stunning 3,000-guest ship during a traditional handover ceremony at the Fincantieri Marghera shipyard in Venice – where master shipbuilders have been constructing the luxurious vessel.

The event was attended by Italian Minister of Enterprises and Made in Italy, Adolfo Urso, and Italian Minister for Relations with Parliament, Luca Ciriani.

Katie McAlister, President of Cunard; Paul Ludlow, President of Carnival UK; Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri; Luigi Matarazzo, General Manager of the Fincantieri Merchant Ships Division; and Marco Lunardi, Fincantieri Shipyard Director, were also present.

Queen Anne, the 249th ship to sail under the Cunard flag – and the third built by Fincantieri – will now set sail for Southampton ahead of her seven-night maiden voyage to Lisbon on May 3.

As the newest addition to the Cunard fleet, Queen Anne's design concepts have been founded on heritage, craftsmanship, style, storytelling, and innovation, and the 114,000-ton ship, which spans 14 decks, will offer travelers several breath-taking experiences, and more choices of entertainment, dining, and bars than ever before.

Cunard has previously announced a series of partnerships for Queen Anne, including Le Gavroche at Sea residencies hosted by two Michelin-starred chef Michel Roux, wellness packages curated by Harper's Bazaar UK's beauty experts, and exclusive British Film Institute screenings in The Pavilion.

She will also boast the widest selection of fitness, beauty, thermal, and spa facilities so far seen on a Cunard ship, with her reimagined Mareel Wellness & Beauty proposition heralding a new era of wellbeing at sea.

Katie McAlister, President of Cunard, said: "We are so excited to welcome Queen Anne to our fleet as she completes a remarkable quartet alongside Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Victoria – marking the first time since 1999 that Cunard will have four ships in simultaneous service. We are now fully focused on readying her to welcome guests for her maiden voyage on May 3 before she embarks on a historic British Isles Festival Voyage, including a momentous Naming Ceremony in Cunard's spiritual home of Liverpool on June 3."

Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri, added: "We are very pleased and eager to deliver Queen Anne to Cunard, a pioneering figure in luxury sea travel, renowned for setting new standards in oceanic voyages for over 180 years. This beautiful and iconic ship testifies the longstanding partnership between our two companies, underscoring our shared commitment to excellence and tradition in the maritime industry. Queen Anne, as Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth, the other two ships we built for Cunard, proudly bear Fincantieri's signature, embodying our enduring expertise, reliability, and craftsmanship in shipbuilding. Constructing a liner for such a distinguished shipowner not only reconnects us to our origins but propels us towards the future with a determination to blend tradition and innovation. Fincantieri thus confirms its leadership in the cruise shipbuilding sector, a fundamental pillar of the company's business project, as both the Group's Business Plan and the vitality of the post-pandemic cruise sector clearly show."

For more information about Cunard or to book a voyage, contact your Travel Advisor, call Cunard at 1-800-728-6273, or visit www.cunard.com.

British Airways Revives Flights To Tel Aviv Celebrating Heritage With New Uniforms

British Airways' rich heritage and new staff uniforms mark a milestone. The return of flights to Tel Aviv brings hope for reduced ticket prices.

In the first week of October, we visited London to find out more about British Airways’ heritage and to understand its current philosophy as the company launched its new staff uniforms.

A few days later, the terrible events of October 7 unfolded. April 1 marked the long-awaited return of British Airways. (As of Thursday, the airline had not stopped flights following last week’s Iranian attack.)

As each airline comes back to Israel, market competitiveness increases and hopefully ticket prices reduce. During the last three months of 2023, with limited options for flyers, prices to Europe and North America soared. The return of British Airways offers another route to London and it reopens a gateway between Tel Aviv and 26 US cities.

There are some changes to the service for the time being as international airline crews are not staying overnight in Israel. The flight from Tel Aviv to London is a direct flight but the London to Tel Aviv journey stops in Larnaca, Cyprus, for a crew change. The flights have also been changed to short-haul status with narrow-bodied jets.British Airways has a rich history dating back close to a century.

Its first flight to then-Palestine, under the company’s original name, Imperial Airways, was more than 90 years ago. These and other landmarks are celebrated in the British Airways Heritage Collection, housed at the Speedbird Centre in its headquarters.

If you have time between flights, it is well worth traveling five minutes from Heathrow Terminal 5 to BA’s Waterside HQ in Harmondsworth. Dozens of model aircraft stand proudly alongside uniforms worn by cabin crew down the years, surrounded by artwork and cabin replicas that tell the story of this British institution. Museum curator and BA historian Jim Davies has worked with the company for 57 years and can provide some wonderful insights.

The crisp, elegant dark blue uniforms with red and white touches were all the talk of cabin crew at British Airways. It’s the first uniform remodeling in 19 years. The blouse, made from recycled materials, ultra-modern jumpsuits, and sharp overcoats were designed by Savile Row tailor Ozwald Boateng and are part of BA’s drive to be a “British original.”

The concept is very apparent when the superbly produced safety video hits the 17-inch, hi-resolution screens in the Club Suite, the newly revamped Club World cabins available on at least 10 routes departing from Heathrow. A cross-section of staff members joins forces with well-known UK personalities, reflecting multicultural 2023 Britain to take passengers through the emergency exits, oxygen mask, and brace position while sharing all that Britain has to offer.

“We recognize there is a new and modern world and how people travel and how people consume, and spend their money and their time and where they work from have changed massively,” says BA chief customer officer Calum Laming. “The British original platform allows us to be BA, allows our colleagues to be themselves. It’s about growing and developing, proudly flying that flag but also proud of where we’ve come from.”

There’s more Britishness on board, of course. If you fly Club World (British Airways parlance for business class), at the right time of day, you can coif English sparkling wine alongside scones and strawberry jam.

A typical Club World menu includes a salad, choice of three starters such as smoky eggplant (read aubergine on the British menu) and chickpeas, mains including grilled cod, lamb or mozzarella mezzaluna and a cheese plate, apricot soufflé or banana chocolate mousse to round things off. The drinks menu is extensive: from Earl Grey via a fine Yealands Pinot Noir to cocktails, mocktails and an excellent six-grapes Port.

The entertainment system brings the best in TV and movies from around the world, audio, and games in an extremely easy-to-use phone-like format. The selection is comprehensive and helpfully categorized.

The business lounges are of the quality one would expect – plenty of food, drink, comfort, and connectivity but if you are traveling onwards on first class, then a stop in the Concorde Room is a must. Three-course à la carte delicious meals await, accompanied by fine, aged wines.

The décor is exceptional, with fabric sofas you would love to have at home. There are private booths for diners and those who want to work in peace. There are 270-degree views of the airport from the lounge’s balcony, and tucked away in a corner is the nose cone from an original Concorde.

But beyond the excellent pre- and on-board service, it’s the crew that stands out. A warm welcome and courteous throughout, the flight attendants offer that unique brand of British humor, leaving you feeling in good hands as if with an old friend.

Some Tel Aviv flights include Hebrew-speaking staff like Shane, who has been with the company for five years and sees his future with British Airways.

Chief customer officer Laming knows the Tel Aviv-London route is highly competitive with Israeli and British carriers battling for market share, and low-cost aircraft providing an attractive alternative for many.

He is relying on the 20,000 employees in his charge to deliver the very best: “The experience is the product,” he says. “It’s the seats and the entertainment and the food we serve on board but it’s all about our people. I am so convinced that British Airways has this unique set of brilliant individuals who really bring the experience to life.”

By MARK GORDON, DAVID ZEV HARRIS, https://www.jpost.com/

The Biden Administration Recruits 15 States To Help Enforce Airline Consumer Laws

The Biden administration is enlisting the help of officials in 15 states to enforce consumer-protection laws covering airline travelers, a power that by law is limited to the federal government.

The U.S. Department of Transportation said Tuesday that the states, which include California, New York and Illinois, will help ensure that government enforcement activities keep up with a current boom in air travel.

Under an agreement announced by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, state attorney general offices will be able to investigate complaints about airline service. If they believe an airline violated the law or is refusing to cooperate with investigators, the states could refer cases to the Transportation Department for enforcement.

In return, the Transportation Department, or DOT, will give the states access to its consumer-complaint system and train state employees about federal consumer laws covering airlines.

“This is a partnership that will greatly improve DOT’s capacity to hold airlines accountable and to protect passengers,” Buttigieg told reporters.

Buttigieg pointed to travelers whose flights are canceled and then must wait days for another flight or pay more to fly home on another airline. “Things like that are a violation of passenger rights, and we are seeing far too many cases of that,” he said.

Other states whose officials signed the “memorandum of understanding” with the Transportation Department are: Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Wisconsin, plus the District of Columbia, the Northern Mariana Islands and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Buttigieg, a Democrat, repeatedly cast the agreement as bipartisan, but only two of the state officials who signed on are Republicans. Buttigieg indicated his department hopes to recruit more states.

Under U.S. law, the federal government alone regulates consumer-protection laws covering airlines. The carriers are not legally required to respond to state investigations.

Consumer advocates have pushed to expand enforcement power to the states. However, both the full House and a key Senate committee declined to include that proposal in pending legislation that covers the Federal Aviation Administration, part of the Transportation Department.

“During the pandemic, we actually got more complaints about airline traffic than any other topic, and it was frustrating” because the state had no authority to investigate the complaints, Colorado Attorney General Philip Weiser said.

Weiser argued that Congress should give states power to enforce airline consumer-protection laws, “but I have to say, we didn’t wait for Congress to act.”

Consumer groups praised the agreement while saying they would rather see Congress write into law the power of states to regulate consumer-protection rules.

“This is the next best thing,” said William McGee, an aviation expert at the American Economic Liberties Project, which opposes industry consolidation. “We don’t look at this as a threat to DOT’s authority. We look at it as the states assisting DOT, which doesn’t have the staffing to handle all the complaints they get.”

Airlines for America, a trade group representing the largest U.S. carriers, said it works with state and national groups “to constantly improve the customer experience for all passengers. We appreciate the role of state attorneys general and their work on behalf of consumers, and we look forward to continue working with them.”

BY DAVID KOENIG

Hunt Country Stable Tour Returns For 65th Year Providing A Rare Look At Equine Life In Virginia Horse Country

After a brief hiatus, the popular Hunt Country Stable Tour returns this year for its 65th anniversary, taking visitors through the gates of historic and private properties to experience a variety of horses and equestrian activities. The event takes place on Memorial Day Weekend— Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with special hours at some venues. The tour is self-driving and tickets are available online here. The cost is $40 per person (plus taxes and fees) and tickets are for both days of the tour. There is no charge for children 10 and under.

Highlights of the tour include a chance to go behind the scenes at Kinross and Poplar Grange Farms, two private equine estates with an array of horses in training. At Kinross, horses are trained for three-day eventing and fox hunting, while Poplar Grange trains jumpers and steeplechase horses. Both properties provide incredible facilities and spectacular views of the rolling hills of horse country.

At Oak Spring Farm, established by the late Paul and Bunny Mellon, visitors can explore the renowned hunter and jumper barns. The Mellons, notable figures in the equestrian world, bred internationally acclaimed horses including Sea Hero, winner of the Kentucky Derby. Notable visitors to the Mellons' stables included Jacqueline Kennedy, who enjoyed foxhunting with the famed Piedmont Fox Hounds.

The Piedmont Fox Hounds are the oldest hunt in the United States and will be at Trinity Church in Upperville (9108 John S. Mosby Hwy., Upperville) on Saturday at 9 a.m. It's an opportunity for all ages to watch the huntsman demonstrate working with his hounds using a horn and voice commands and mingle with the hounds.

The venue at Old Denton provides a unique experience to gain a newfound appreciation for mules as visitors will see firsthand their abilities across diverse disciplines such as dressage, western reining, and foxhunting. A carriage drive will also be part of this stop.

Additional demonstrations will be held throughout the weekend at various times and locations. Polo matches will be held both days at Phipps Field. The Middleburg Training Center will open Saturday morning only from 7 to 9 a.m. for visitors who wish to watch jockeys and trainers exercise Thoroughbred race horses.

The tour also includes Stoke Farm and Welbourne Inn, historic estates dating back to the 1800s. Welbourne will host historical reenactors who will recount some of the property’s history, which includes famous guests such as F. Scott Fitzgerald to Thomas Wolfe and others. Visitors to Stoke will be treated to breathtaking panoramic views of the rolling hills, verdant valleys, and distant mountain ranges while being enamored by the Ashland Bassets, Virginia’s oldest foot hunting pack, with the opportunity to get up close and personal.

Horse lovers can visit mares and foals at Virginia Tech’s Middleburg Agricultural Research and Extension Center (MARE), a 420-acre equine health and nutrition research facility. Salamander Resort will open its stables to showcase horses and students from local therapeutic riding programs, allowing attendees to engage with these special horses and volunteers. Learn more of the heritage of country pursuits with a tour of rare book and art collection at The National Sporting Library & Museum.

Proceeds from the tour benefit Trinity Ministries, providing financial support to organizations that enhance and enrich the lives of people in need.

For more information on the Hunt Country Stable Tour and its exciting line up of properties and experiences, visit https://trinityupperville.org/hunt-country-stable-tour.

United Arab Emirates Struggles To Recover After Heaviest Recorded Rainfall Ever Its Desert Nation

The United Arab Emirates tried to wring itself out Thursday after the heaviest recorded rainfall ever to hit the desert nation, with its main airport allowing more flights even as floodwater still covered portions of major highways and communities.

Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international travel, allowed global carriers on Thursday morning to again fly into Terminal 1 at the airfield. And long-haul carrier Emirates, crucial to East-West travel, began allowing local passengers to arrive at Terminal 3, their base of operations.

However, Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said in an interview with The Associated Press that the airfield needed at least another 24 hours to resume operations close to its usual schedule. Meanwhile, one desert community in Dubai saw floodwaters continue to rise Thursday to as much as 1 meter (3 feet) as civil defense officials struggled to pump out the water.

“We were looking at the radar thinking, ‘Goodness, if this hits, then it’s going to be cataclysmic,’” Griffiths said of the storm. “And indeed it was.”

The airport ended up needing 22 tankers with vacuum pumps to get water off its grounds. Griffiths acknowledged that taxiways flooded during the rains, though the airport’s runways remained free of water to safely operate. Online videos of a FlyDubai flight landing with its reverse thrust spraying out water caught the world’s attention.

“It looks dramatic, but it actually isn’t that dramatic,” Griffiths said.

Emirates, whose operations had been struggling since the storm Tuesday, had stopped travelers flying out of the UAE from checking into their flights as they tried to move out connecting passengers. Pilots and flight crews also had a hard time reaching the airport given the water on roadways.

But on Thursday, Emirates lifted that order to allow customers into the airport. That saw some 2,000 people come into Terminal 3, again sparking long lines, Griffiths said.

Others who arrived at the airport described hourslong waits to get their baggage, with some just giving up to head home or to whatever hotel would have them.

The UAE, a hereditarily ruled, autocratic nation on the Arabian Peninsula, typically sees little rainfall in its arid desert climate. However, a massive storm forecasters had been warning about for days blew through the country’s seven sheikhdoms.

By the end of Tuesday, more than 142 millimeters (5.59 inches) of rainfall had soaked Dubai over 24 hours. An average year sees 94.7 millimeters (3.73 inches) of rain at Dubai International Airport. Other areas of the country saw even more precipitation.

Meanwhile, intense floods also have struck neighboring Oman in recent days. Authorities on Thursday raised the death toll from those storms to at least 21 killed.

The UAE’s drainage systems quickly became overwhelmed Tuesday, flooding out neighborhoods, business districts and even portions of the 12-lane Sheikh Zayed Road highway running through Dubai.

The state-run WAM news agency called the rain “a historic weather event” that surpassed “anything documented since the start of data collection in 1949.”

In a message to the nation late Wednesday, Emirati leader Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the ruler of Abu Dhabi, said authorities would “quickly work on studying the condition of infrastructure throughout the UAE and to limit the damage caused.”

On Thursday, people waded through oil-slicked floodwater to reach cars earlier abandoned, checking to see if their engines still ran. Tanker trucks with vacuums began reaching some areas outside of Dubai’s downtown core for the first time as well. Schools remain closed until next week.

Authorities have offered no overall damage or injury information from the floods, which killed at least one person.

However, at least one community saw the effects of the rainfall only get worse Thursday. Mudon, a development by the state-owned Dubai Properties, saw flooding in one neighborhood reach as much as 1 meter. Civil defense workers tried to pump the water out, but it was a struggle as people waded through the floodwater.

Residents of Mudon, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity given the UAE’s strict laws governing speech, described putting together the equivalent of nearly $2,000 to get a tanker to the community Wednesday. They alleged the developers did nothing to help prior to that, even as they called and emailed. They also said a nearby sewage processing facility failed, bringing more water into their homes.

“A lot of people were in denial of how bad it was,” one homeowner said as civil defense officials waded through the water, bringing bottled water on a raft.

Dubai Holding, a state-owned company that has Dubai Properties as an arm, did not respond to questions. It’s part of a wider nexus that U.S. diplomats have called “Dubai Inc.” — all properties overseen by the city-state’s ruling family.

The flooding sparked speculation that the UAE’s aggressive campaign of cloud seeding — flying small planes through clouds dispersing chemicals aimed at getting rain to fall — may have contributed to the deluge. But experts said the storm systems that produced the rain were forecast well in advance and that cloud seeding alone would not have caused such flooding

Scientists also say climate change is responsible for more intense and more frequent extreme storms, droughts, floods and wildfires around the world. Dubai hosted the United Nations’ COP28 climate talks just last year.

Abu Dhabi’s state-linked newspaper The National in an editorial Thursday described the heavy rains as a warning to countries in the wider Persian Gulf region to “climate-proof their futures.”

“The scale of this task is more daunting than it appears even at first glance, because such changes involve changing the urban environment of a region that for as long as it has been inhabited, has experienced little but heat and sand,” the newspaper said

BY JON GAMBRELL

Lufthansa Business Class Debuts New Culinary Highlights

Board, take off, relax, and enjoy: Lufthansa is continually enhancing its in-flight product to provide a pleasant journey for passengers in all classes. In Business Class, on long-haul flights, new culinary offerings are now available, along with a variety of enhancements that have been, and will be, introduced.

Heiko Reitz, Chief Commercial Officer Lufthansa Airlines, explained: “The entire Lufthansa team is proud to present our new Business Class experience. Our culinary offerings highlight the celebration of German bread culture and the collaboration with traditional brands, such as Ziegler, for the new Lufthansa Aperitif Avionic, underline the timeless elegance of our brand. The other new products that we will soon be introducing in various travel classes are further steps towards our goal of creating a whole new level of excitement for our guests.”

Bread is one of the Germans' favorite foods. There are more than 3,000 different types of bread in Germany and bread culture has been part of the German UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage for ten years. Lufthansa Business Class guests on long-haul flights from Germany can now enjoy bread developed exclusively for Lufthansa by baker-sommelier and World Baker of the Year 2022 Axel Schmitt. The handmade breads, which are only available on board Lufthansa flights from Germany, are baked fresh daily from natural ingredients and do not contain any additives. The Bread is served with homemade butter and high-quality olive oil as an appetizer. For each new quarter, there will be a different type of bread specially created for Lufthansa.

Lufthansa Business Class guests can also look forward to further innovations in the in-flight service on long-haul routes. For example, soon Lufthansa will debut a new signature drink - the Avionic Apéritif. With this, Business Class travelers will have a more varied choice for their welcome drink, with choices ranging from water, sparkling wine or the Avionic Apéritif. All options are served with nuts before take-off. The Avionic Apéritif is a special creation by the Ziegler distillery, developed with Sven Riebel, the Frankfurt bar icon and recently awarded "Host of the Year" by Mixology – Magazin für Barkultur. The drink has a base of peach notes and wild meadow herbs and is mixed on ice with tonic.

Moreover, for the first time ever, Business Class guests will be served a vegetarian amuse-bouche, from antipasti to sushi, as a prelude to the first course. Fresh fruit will also be added to the dessert menu. Additionally, there is a new modular snack offer for those with a smaller appetite, and in between the main services, which varies depending on the length of the route and time of day. This includes snacks, fresh fruit and, on longer flights, fresh salty and sweet treats such as tomato and mozzarella skewers or wraps with pastrami. Beginning in June every passenger will be given a small box of Lindt chocolates in an exclusive Lufthansa design as a farewell gift. Lufthansa Business Class guests will thus be offered an all-around, memorable service, from the welcome moment to the farewell gesture.

Travelore News: US Consumers Sue To Stop Alaska Air, Hawaiian Airlines Merger

Alaska Air opens new tab has been hit with a U.S. consumer lawsuit alleging that the carrier’s proposed $1.9 billion acquisition of rival Hawaiian Airlines opens new tab will lead to higher prices, job layoffs and fewer flights.

The lawsuit was filed, opens new tab on Monday in federal court in Hawaii by eight airline passengers from Hawaii, California and other states. Some of the plaintiffs are former travel agents. The passengers said the Alaska Air deal, announced last year, will unlawfully harm air travel competition in violation of U.S. antitrust law.

“The current trend toward concentration, the lessening of competition and the tendency to create a monopoly in the airlines industry is unmatched, unparalleled, and dangerous,” the lawsuit said.

Alaska Air in a statement called the lawsuit "a normal occurrence in public company mergers" but declined to comment further on the case.

Hawaiian Airlines, which is not a defendant, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Attorney Joseph Alioto, representing the plaintiffs, on Tuesday said the airlines' deal would amount to a “shutdown of competition.” He said “every one of these mega-mergers is a blow to the free enterprise system.”

The lawsuit appears to be the first filed over the proposed deal.

In announcing the Hawaiian acquisition, Alaska Air said the combined company “will unlock more destinations for consumers and expand choice of critical air service options and access throughout the Pacific region.”

The deal is under antitrust review by the U.S. Justice Department. The airlines said in March that they “have been working cooperatively with the DOJ and expect to continue to do so.”

A Justice Department spokesperson declined to comment on Tuesday.

The Biden-era Justice Department successfully sued to block JetBlue Airways’ $3.8 billion agreement with Spirit Airlines. After a judge blocked the deal, the airlines last month called off the merger.

In another case, American Airlines has asked a U.S. appeals court to reverse a Boston federal judge's decision that its now-scrapped U.S. Northeast partnership with JetBlue was anticompetitive. American Airlines said the ruling threatens other collaborations.

The case is Warren Yoshimoto et al v. Alaska Airlines and Alaska Air Group, U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii, No. 1:24-cv-00173.

https://www.reuters.com/authors/mike-scarcella/