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NEW YORK, NY (MARKET WIRE) The Luxury Institute (www.LuxuryInstitute.com) reported today that New York-based Chief Executive Air (www.chiefexecutiveair.com), a full service private aviation company specializing in private jet charters, has earned the Luxury Institute's Seal of Customer Approval certification at the Platinum level, the highest possible level of authenticated customer recommendation. In an independent survey of its current clients, Chief Executive Air was rated by a statistical sample of customer respondents with the highest level of willingness to recommend the firm. Customers who are willing to

Star Alliance has opened a new lounge for first and business class passengers in Paris.Covering 850 square metres, the lounge is the largest facility of its kind in Terminal 1 at Charles de Gaulle Airport and has enough space to accommodate more than 200 customers.Facilities include business centre workstations, wireless internet access, shower areas, hot and cold food, state-of-the-art television screens and complimentary drinks.The lounge is currently open to people travelling from Paris with Star Alliance carriers including Lufthansa, TAP Portugal, US Airways, LOT Polish Airlines and others.Star Alliance chief executive Jaan Albrecht said: "The Star Alliance Lounge at Charles de Gaulle Terminal 1 is one more example of how collaboration in the alliance can lead to improvements for the customer while at the same time allow our member carriers to reduce their costs."The new lounge is one of four passenger facilities operated by Star Alliance, with the others located at Heath

People catching flights to and from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport can now make use of a free wireless internet network that was recently opened at the hub.Installed by Finavia, a state-owned provider of airport and aviation services, the web connection is available in customer waiting areas, cafes and restaurants at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport.If a computer is in use in the wireless zone, the availability of the internet connection will appear automatically on the monitor screen.Airport director Juha-Pekka Pystynen suggested that the wireless network could prove particularly useful for business travellers."Many people want to deal with their business matters using their own laptops while waiting for their flight. Now it's easy, because now you don't need separate passwords in order to sign on," he said.People who do not have laptops can access the web at internet kiosks for a fee or use one of the six computers at the airport's eService bar.Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is the home hub of Fi

Emirates has started using the Airbus A380 to operate flights from Heathrow Airport to Dubai.On December 1st, the airline launched the superjumbo on flight EK001, which departs Dubai daily at 07:45 and arrives at Heathrow Airport at 11:35, and the return EK002 service, which leaves London at 13:45 and lands in Dubai at 00:30 the following day.The A380 used on this route is the third of the 58 ordered by Emirates. The carrier is currently the largest customer for the A380.Tim Clark, president of the airline, said: "We are delighted to bring our customers state-of-the-art comforts which are unmatched anywhere else in the world."Despite today's challenging economic environment, they have responded by booking every seat on our inbound and outbound flights."The Emirates A380 flying from Heathrow Airport to Dubai offers a total of 489 seats on two levels, comprising 14 first class suites, 76 business class seats and 399 spaces in economy.Emirates is already using two A380s to

KBS Real Estate Investment Trust I has completed a $20.6 million deal for two buildings at City Gate Plaza, a master-planned office park in South Natomas.

HOUSTON, TX (MARKET WIRE) AeroMexico, the global airline of Latin America, has announced that it will launch non-stop flights between Chicago and Morelia, Mexico beginning December 4. Flights will be available four days a week initially with an increase to daily service between December 15 and January 11, 2009, for the holiday season. The airline will offer the best value in the market with competitive fares and premier service on these non-stop flights with connecting service throughout Mexico. Attractively priced vacation packages, which include airfare, hotel and rental car, will also be available through

Qantas and Virgin Blue welcomed the Australian government's draft National Aviation Policy Statement or "Green Paper" as "forward-looking and balanced."

Noncash losses on fuel hedges and currency fluctuations dragged AirAsia to its first quarterly loss since going public in 2004, a MYR465.5 million ($128.2 million) third-quarter deficit that represented a reversal from the MYR180 million earned in the year-ago period.

Delta Air Lines said yesterday that systemwide capacity for both it and new subsidiary Northwest Airlines will be down 6%-8% in 2009, comprising a 3%-5% international cut and an 8%-10% domestic reduction.

British Airways and Qantas are exploring a potential merger "via a dual-listed company structure," both carriers confirmed yesterday in a brief statement responding to recent speculation.