There will be departures from Copenhagen on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 3:15 p.m., arriving in Shanghai at 7.35 a.m. the following day. The return flight to Copenhagen will depart at 10:30 a.m. and land at 3.40 p.m. local time. Convenient connecting flights will be offered from Copenhagen to other destinations in Europe and Scandinavia.

As an economic market, China is in a phase of strong growth and there is an increasing need for air transport between China and Europe. Shanghai is China's largest city. The Chinese Government is aiming to make Shanghai Asia's economic hub by 2010. In other words, this is an extremely attractive destination for business air travel.

Leisure travel from China is also expected to increase. China and the EU have signed an agreement - ADS -, which provides Chinese citizens tourist visas to EU countries.

"Our daily flights to Beijing from Copenhagen are, in principle, always fully booked and we foresee a continued demand for travel between China and Europe. As the largest industrial and commercial market, Shanghai has enormous growth potential," says Sören Belin, Executive Vice President and COO, Scandinavian Airlines.

With the addition of this route, Scandinavian Airlines has nine intercontinental destinations. All of these destinations are served by the modern, new Airbus aircraft.

The new connection with Charlotte opens up a dense network of connections in the USA for customers. As the hub of Lufthansa's partner US Airways, in particular, Charlotte is a springboard to the Southeast of the USA: Passengers can conveniently and quickly reach a further 15 destinations with code-sharing flights from here. With a population of 500,000, Charlotte is the largest city in the federal state of North Carolina and for years has been regarded as the "boom town" in the South of the USA. The "Bank of America", the USA's largest bank, has its headquarters in Charlotte, thus making the Southern state metropolis the second-largest financial centre in the United States. 168 German companies have settled in the region around Charlotte, including large companies in the textile industry, metal processing and the electronics industry.

The region also has much to offer holidaymakers. The federal state of North Carolina is located on the East coast of the United States halfway between New York and Florida. In geographical and historic terms, the state belongs to American Southern states whose colonial charm is still to be seen in many towns in North Carolina.

In addition to 1,300 restaurants, first-class cultural facilities and a lively scene, North Carolina fascinates its visitors with its diverse natural recreational attractions. Richly contrasting landscapes and breathtaking national parks invite visitors to undertake trekking and rafting tours, anglers and water sportsmen will get their money's worth on the rivers and lakes. In addition, the Atlantic coast with its beach resorts and offshore islands is within easy reach. With its many spectacular championship courses, North Carolina is regarded as an Eldorado for golfers from all over the world.

The Airbus A340-300 to Charlotte takes off daily at 11.10 hrs., the return flight arrives in Munich at 8.00 hrs. In the forthcoming summer timetable, from its second hub Lufthansa will be flying to eight cities in North America and will thus depart 55 times a week to the American continent.

Direct flight to the business centre of Guangzhou
Guangzhou is the name of the second new destination from Munich's Terminal 2, to which Lufthansa is offering its customers a direct connection for the first time: The metropolis in Guandong Province, with its ten million inhabitants, is China's "Southern gateway to the world". In terms of its economic importance, Guangzhou is comparable with Beijing or Shanghai. Germany is the largest European investor in Guandong Province: over 200 German companies have established themselves here.

Guangzhou can look back at a 2000-year history which also makes the city on the Pearl River particularly attractive as a tourist destination. In addition, it has an unusual hinterland in which lakes, mountains and caves dominate the picture. As a result, more and more tourists are discovering Guangzhou and its surrounding countryside: Last year, almost a quarter of all visitors to China went to the province of Guandong.

Subject to government approval, as of 1st February Lufthansa will offer the Chinese metropolis five times a week on a continuing flight from Shanghai. As of 28th March, it is then planned to offer the flight to Guangzhou via Shanghai daily with an Airbus A340. The return flight from Guangzhou is planned to depart at 20.35 hrs., so that passengers from Shanghai and Guangzhou can reach the Bavarian metropolis on an attractive night flight.

KLM joins the growing list of successful interline electronic ticketing agreements Continental has with American, Delta, Northwest, United, US Airways, Alaska, COPA, America West and Aloha.

Customers benefit from interline electronic ticketing as it eliminates the need to obtain a paper ticket when transferring from one airline to another. Interline electronic ticketing bridges the two different airline computer reservation systems, allowing access to electronically stored itineraries.

"The majority of our customers choose to travel on eTickets because of convenience," said Janet Wejman, Continental's senior vice president and chief information officer. "This interline agreement makes it easier for customers to travel on Continental in conjunction with our alliance partner KLM and other carriers in the same itinerary."

In future, the travel agencies will be perceived even more clearly as representing the interests of the customers and will be able to position themselves more effectively through outstanding service. The net price model opens up new economic perspectives for them in a difficult environment. "We generate 92% of our revenues via travel agencies. On around 95% of all routes worldwide, Lufthansa flies in competition with other airlines. This relationship indicates how closely we are linked with each other and how important the travel agencies are for us", explains Thierry Antinori. It is left to the travel agencies to decide to what extent they offer their customers advice and other services and charge a fee for it.

With their full range of services, the travel agency already operates today on behalf of the customer. It sells the entire product range of the travel operators, the airlines, all hotels and car rental companies as well as the tourism groups and the railways. Logically, in future the customer will pay the travel agency for advice and the issue of tickets. "The customer rewards the good service of his travel agency and pays Lufthansa for the transport service provided. The respective prices for advising and services will become more transparent and thus comparable for him", according to Thierry Antinori. In return, Lufthansa will support the travel agencies with competitive offers, a trustworthy brand and a high-quality product which corresponds to the customer's requirements.

With the introduction of net prices, Lufthansa is following the international trend in the travel business. Within the last two years, similar models have been introduced in the USA and Canada as well as in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Great Britain. An introduction in 2004 in Italy has been announced, and the home market carriers in Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland are planning to follow in 2005. "We observe the market mechanisms in an environment which is changing daily. Already today, in important European markets and North America, net prices are also used for Lufthansa flights. "The introduction in Germany is a logical consequence", concludes Thierry Antinori.

Cyprus is preparing itself to become a member of the European Union in mid 2004. The Mediterranean island could no longer fail to appear in the portfolio of European destinations offered by SN, based in Brussels, Capital of Europe.
As from this month of December, SN Brussels Airlines will offer flights to Paphos (2 weekly flights) and Larnaca (3 weekly flights). Cyprus Airways will operate these flights in codeshare.

Cyprus, a country of myths and legends, enjoys the warm Mediterranean wind all year round. Alexander the Great and Cleopatra both claimed to be the masters of this island, during its tumultuous history. The island is full of historical and cultural treasures of the highest interest. Cyprus is also famous for its tourist infrastructure, its luxury hotels and its 750.000 hospitable inhabitants. Flight schedules allow business trips, mini trips as well as longer holidays. These schedules also offer passengers flying from Cyprus smooth connections via Brussels to many destinations offered by SN Brussels Airlines.

The four-star Ramada Adelaide Hotel & Suites features 125 one- and two- bedroom suites and a restaurant offering authentic Australian cuisine, including bushtucker, or food from the bush; yabbies, native lobster; and pavlova, a light and airy traditional Australian cake. Additional hotel features include an indoor pool, fitness center, spa, sauna and steam room.

Within walking distance of the hotel, guests can visit the city's major attractions - Australia's first convention center and Festival Theater - or choose from a variety of popular attractions, including Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale, The Barossa, River Murray, Victor Harbor and Clare Valley. The nearby airports offer a 30-minute flight to Kangaroo Island, allowing guests to catch a glimpse of Australian wildlife, from wallabies, goannas and koalas to kangaroos and ospreys. The airport also offers daily flights to Sydney and Melbourne, along with direct flights to Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur.

For weddings, meetings or other social functions, Ramada offers flexible event space. Properties feature an array of food, beverage and catering options, as well as audiovisual equipment to suit meeting needs, large or small.

Ramada International hotels incorporate six core pillars: a restful sleep; an invigorating shower; a well-trained staff; an exceptional level of cleanliness; the "Ramada Mornings" breakfast; and a Spirit to Service Our Communities with community partnerships, family services, associate involvement and career opportunities. There are currently 192 Ramada International hotels located in 27 countries and territories, including Europe, The Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, Caribbean and Latin America.